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' Racine Scliool Furniture 

139 Waba«Ii Aveuue, Cliicago. 

Manufacturers of the celebrated "Perforated" FoM- 
ing and Lock Desk, and dealers in school merehan-^:. 
dine generally. 



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Es. r>-^:E=L.^^x>3:®, 




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GHENT, MINNESOTA. 

Where tlie public will find good goods at ])ed-rock prices. 
Farmers produce taken at liigliest market price. 



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*'Wjl. 



I use the Rapid Dry Plates exclusively, and guarantee good 
work. When you want pictures of any knid, 



Call at McGAlY'S GROUND-FLOOR GiLLEKY, 



Main Street' Mavsli^allvMinli: 







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PRorraETOR of 



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— DEALER IN— 




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MGRi'UlAe^ COLTS AMD HORSES, 

AND POLAND CHINA HOGS. 



1>. O. miartiliall, Lyon Co., :TIian. 



M. B. DRKAV^, 

l^'ir.sl Mort pcaore^. J^oaiis and 

MARSHALL, MINN. 



WAKEMAN'S DRUG STORE. 

MARSHALL, MINNESOTA- 




PREPARED PAINTS, & WHITE 

LINSEED, CASTOR, SPERM AND 

LARD OIL, 

Olieaper tl:i.a<n. s^^rL-y^jrlr^oxo else ixi. to"^77-n. 

ALL KINDS OF DRUGS ANO SUNDRIES. 

None but the best goods. One price for all. 



PIOHEEB MmHEGTABTOBH. 



N. W. L. JAGER 



Offers lor sale at the postoliice store in Minneota, a lar2;e and carefully-select- 
ed stock of 



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[A^ mmw©MAmmi\ 



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And is confident that he can make it pay all to trade with him. Having been 
in trade here since the lirst settlement of the town, he thoroujibly underst and3 
the trade wants ot the community, and keeps a stock that all can satisfy them- 
selves from. Go and see him. 



TollisFamsfs WiioMaiMMa. 



OLE O. BRENNA, JR. 



Is constantly adding to his stock, and no\v has nearly everything you want in 

the line of 

Dry Goods, GrocerieKS, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, No- 
tions, Clothing and Crockery. 

All bought cheap, and for sale at the lowest living profit. Try his store, and 

you will continue to trade with him. 




I 





I have secured the agency of this best of liaes, and can now furnish all with 



Tickets and Drafts 



On all the principal parts of Europe at the very lowest rates. 

.1. H. FROST, Minneota. 



Kayser's Book Store ! 



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Sewing inacliines, guns, musical instruments, confectionery, 
toys, school supplies, amunition, fishing tackle, etc. 

KAYSER'S JEWELRY STORE 

Always has a large assortment 

OF 

Watches, Clocks, Silver-ware, Jewelry. 



B^Jil W\J€{|£g 




Everything sold is strictly 
as represented, and anything 
not in stock will be oj'dered at 
list prices. 

Repairing of watches, clocks 
jewelry, guns, etc. promptly 
attended to hy competent 



Marshall. Minn. 




The Pioneer Store of Marshall Is 

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-OUR STOCK OF- 



DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS 



IS UNSUKPASSED. 



A large line of Boots and Shoes, on 
which we save our patrons 25 per cent, 

spring stock for 1884 was bought cheap. Always go to the Boston Store 

to save money. 



Respectlully, 



AC. chittp:nden. 






II 1 

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY. 



In this unpretentious work we shall not attempt to connect Lyon County 
historically with the Garden of Eden or trace back its geographicalrelations 
farther than the history ot the state which it ornaments. 

Prior to 1866 the territory which is now embraced by this and sereral other 
counties, was a part of Blue Earth county. At the date above mentioned the 
wild western portion of Blue Earth became Brown county. In 1857, Cotton- 
wood, Murray, Pipestone, Nobles and Jackson were taken out of Brown, and 
in 1865 Redwood county was taken from Brown. The territory thus taken 
embraced what is novv Yellow Medicine, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Lincoln and 
Kedwood In 1869 Lyon county was subtracted from Redwood. It then also 
embraced Lincoln county whicli was taken from Lyon in 1873, 

Two Indian reserrations had been establised within the territory of Red- 
wood county, one at Minnesota City in what is now Yellow Medicine county, 
the other six or eight miles east of the present site of Redwood Falls. These 
were called respectively the Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies. Througli hu- 
manitarian ideas an attempt had been made to civilize and make farmers of 
these Sioux, for which purpose houses had been built by government, farms 
opened and a very pretty system inaugurated. It resulted, however, in fail- 
ure, and the terrible Sioux massacre of 1862 killed all romantic ideas about 
the "poor Indian" and put a dead stop to immigration to western Minnesota. 
Prior to the massacre, settlement in this latitude had stopped at the eastern 
limit of the reservaticn, and only an occasional trader, who saw large profits 
in the exchange of poor whiskey and other poor goods for furs, ventured far- 
ther west. Thre^ of these trading stations existed before the massacre within 
the section set off as Lyon county. One was at Lake Benton, one in Lynd and 
Lyons, and another at Saratoga in the town ot Custer. 



vc\t 

12 LYON COUNTY. 

As earl}' as 1857 and probably a little before that date, a man by the name 
of Lynd had a trading station on the Redwood riyer, probably on sectiou 5 in 
Lyona, and on section 33 in Lynd as stated in the special histories of those 
towns. Near that locality there were groves of timber which made an at- 
tractive camping place for the Sioux. In those times the Indians found very 
little trouble in getting food, the streams and lakes aboundmg with fish, and 
there was plenty of game in the woods and on the prairie, besides the wealth 
of fur that was yielded by the many lakes in these parts. It is i probable that 
these, the first settlers of Lyon county, so far as we know, lived as easy and 
perhaps as contented lives as the present settlers. The red pipestone quarry, 
which was holy ground to them, lay only twelve or fifteen miles from Lyon 
county as it now stands, and the Indian trails between that and the Minnesota 
river ran through this county. This section became an Indian tramping 
ground, and the groves of the Redwood and Cottonwood were familiar and 
frequented spots. 

At the time of the massacre in 1862 there were no settlers and no tradmg 
posts in the count}'. It is fortunate that such was the case. At lake Shetek 
in Murray county there was a settlement of whites who were slaughtered by 
the blood-thirsty savages. Mr. Everett, who alterwards became one of the 
firm who first opened a store here, was then living at Shetek. He was shot, 
and saw his wife and two children killed and scalped, while a third child a 
daughter was carried off, but afterward rescued. Mr. Everett, after intense 
suffering from wounds, escaped and moved to Waseca. 

After the massacre much ol the land formerly Avithin the Sioux reservation 
Avas surveyed and thrown open for settlement. In 1865 emigration began to 
get across the Minnesota. Redwood Falls and Minnesota City had settlers as 
soon as 1865, and in 1867 the settlement of Lynd in Lyon county commenced 
as given in the history of that town. Custer and Stanley received settlei's in 
1868 and that year and the next two or three years there was quite a rapid 
immigration that forever extinguished the huntin": srrounds of the Indian and 

o o o to 

rendered unto Ceres the things that were hers. 

The county was everyway fitted by nature for a rich agricultural section. 

The level prairie with its wealth of nutritious grass, the many streams and 

lakes, stocked with fish, the scattered groves, and, above all, the deep rich 

soil ofi"ered inducements that overcame even the fear of Indian fickelness, and 

the home seekers of the east flocked to our prairies to plant here the germs of 

future agricultural wealth and advanced civilization. Before this the tide of 

immigration had swept across the slates south of us, and though coming here 

a little later, it came rapidly, making a populous county in three or four 
years out ot tenantless plains. 



LYON COUNJ'Y. 13 

The settlement of Lynd ia 1867 was the controlling settlement in the county 
for two or three years, and beeame the county seat when the county was or- 
ganized in 1872. There was found the only postoflice or store in the county 
till one was started in 1871 by Wagner & Co. at Lake Uenton. This store was 
sold m 1873 to Dr. G. "\V. Whitney who before this had a store in Lynd in the 
old log house formerly used as an Indian trading post. 

The hrst settlers at Lake Benton were Wm. Taylor and Chas. Schintle who 
went there in the spring of 1868. The former was afterward lost and frozea 
to death in the blizzard ol Jan. 1873. In the same storm James Robinson and 
a Mr. Ebersol of Lincoln county, the latter from Lake Hendricks, weio lost 
and perishinl. The ¥ox family, from near Marshall were lost at the same 
time and tlirt^e of them died as mentioned in the historj" of Lake Marshall. 
This is S'lid by old settlers to have been the worst blizzard experienced by 
whites here. Chas. Taylor, a son of the Wm. Taylor who perished in this 
storm at Lake Benton, was afterw.ird lost in a blizzard between Marshall and 
Lake Benton and was also frozen, to death. With the then almost unbrokeu 
prairie for many miles nearly houseless and roadless, these terrible winter 
storms were likely to overtake those who ventured from home, ^and to be so 
'overtaken was extremely hazardous. It is a wonder that the mortuary record 
of the countj^ for those early years does not show more deaths from freezing 
than it does. 

The population of Lyon county was rather sparse in 1869 when the county 
was set off from Redwood county, though scant settlement had been started 
at Marshall, Stanley, Custer, Amiret, Lake Benton, Lynd and the town ot 
Lyons. 

In December of "69 the governor appointed A. W. Muzzy, L, S. Kiel and E. 
C. Horton as commissioners. Owing to absences ot the commissioners which 
prevented a meeting no oifieial action was taken till August 1870. The first 
meeting of the commissioners was held Aug. 12, 1870, at L. Tickner's, Upper 
Lynd. Mr. Muzzy was chosen chairman; K. Holland was made auditor pro 
tern by the board, D. M. Taylor elected auditor, and Chas. Hildreth sherifl". 
The board then adjourned till Oct. 8. E Lamb was then chosen auditor and 
the board prepared for the flrst county election by making the following elec- 
tion precincts: 

Saratoga precmct, towns 107, 110, range 40 and -41. /.Ferguson and (Jeo. 
Robinson were appointed justices and Joseph Wagner, J:is. Mitcliell ami C'lar- 
ence Avery judges of election, which was to be held at llie house ol Geo Rob- 
inson. 



14 • LYON COUNTY. 

Marshall precinct embraced towns 111 and 112, ranges 40 and 41, with W. 
S. Reynolds and C. H. Wliitney, justices; C. H. Upton, Josoph Carter and L. 
Lanf^fdon, judges ot election, to be held at house of C H. Whitney. 

Upper Yellow Medicine precinct was town 113, ranges 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44, 
with Frank Nelson and Mr. Morse, justices. 

Lynd precinct embraced towns 111 and 112, range* 42 and 43 with 109 and 
110 ot same ranges attached. A. VV. Muzzy, A. R. Cummings and L. Tickaer 
were judges of election. No justices were appointed. 

Lake Benton pre-inct embraced the rest of the county. Ross and Bently 
were made justices and Wm. Taylor, Dau'l Williams and John Birmingham 
judges of election to be held at house of Daniel Williams. 

At the subsequent election the following officers were elected, 78 votes being 
east: 

Timothy Eastman, Joseph Wagner and Daniel Williams, commissioners; 
Geo. E. Keyes, auditor; A. R. Cummings, treasurer; W. H. Langdon, register 
of deeds; Jas. Cummings, sherift; A. D. Morgan, clerk of court; A. W. Muz- 
*y» judge of probate; W. M. Pierce, county attorney; Jas. Mitchell, Sr., court 
commissioner. At a subsequent commissioners meeting in 1871 G. W. Whit- 
new was appointed superintendent of schools. The commissioner and assess- 
ment districts were made as follows: No. 1, all east of ran^e 42. No. 2, i-ange 
42. No. 3, all west of range 42. 

The location of the county seat at this time was at Upper Lynd, at which 
place it remained for about two years, when Lower Lynd, having stolen the 
thunder of its upper rival, took the county seat also. These were times of 
frontier experience to the tew settlers ot this count}'. The luxuries of lile then 
were few and far between only so far as an active imagination surrounded with 
Si couleur de rose the com^noneT things of lite. The elasticity of the human 
mind makes i^leasures out ot privations, and it IS not improbable that some of 
these early settlers enioyed themselves better then than now. They were not 
here for immediate wealth, and society's demands were not very burdensome. 

Logs for houses could be had with little trouble, or if not, sod was always 
plentj'. Firevvood could be had lor the chopping, there then being no strin- 
gent laws against cutting on government land. The railroad grant was not 
then made. Provision was not so easy to provide as very littie land was in 
cultivation and wholesale stores were nearly a hundred miles off. Merchan- 
dise, what little was used, was brought from New Ulm, St. Peter cr Mankato 
by team, a long trip, especially in winter. li lumber was »vanted logs had to 
be hauled fifty milesjto Redwood Falls, where there was a saw mill. A saw 
mill was, however, in operation near Upper l^ynd in the winter of 18G9, which 



LYOxV COUNTY. 15 

afforded a great relief to the settlers of these parts. Going to mill for flour 
was as bad as tor lumber. The saw mill haTing failed to be very remunera- 
tive was changed to a grist mill alter about three years service in making na- 
tive dumber. Fishmg and hunting iu these early times were good, and trap- 
ping in some places was a not unimportant source ot income. The lakes in 
the county at that time were the homes oi a good many tur auimairf, iiicludinu- 
some of the more valuable furs. Trade began in a small way, first with the 
Indians lor ponies, fur, feathers, &c. There were then plenty of Indians i-oam- 
ing around the county in the earlier years of its settlement, though they were 
always peaceful and anxious to trade what they had for what they hadn't. 
Frequent dances at which everybody knew everybody and formality was un- 
necessary and unobserved, an occasional meeting and Sunday -school, visits to 
the store where the old settlers met to exchange lies and express admiration of 
Ellis's kicking mule, with the annual elections made up about all the social 
history ot tbe times. 

The first deal in merchandise that could without too dangerous a stretch of 
the idea be called a store, was ny D. M. Taylor, who kept a stock ot goods at 
the P. O. at Upper L,ynd, when he was postmaster from June 1868, for sale to 
the settlers. The next store was opened by G. W. Whitney. Ellis went into 
trade in 1871. 

The settlers of these times were mostly men and their families who were at- 
tracted here by the government offer of free land. Usually all tiiat the law al- 
lowed was taken as claims, and the holders patiently waited for the tidal 
wave of immigration to make their possessions valuable. No very great ef- 
forts at farming were made. The aim and expected end of most ot these fron- 
tier settlements was speculation in land. The public lands of Iowa had been 
swept over and the original holders made wealthy with no efforts ot their own. 
Our early settlers waited for the same experience. Some of them are waiting 
yet. Many of them lelt comfortable homes farther east and melted away their 
small wealth nourishing the hope of coming opulence. Some have partially 
realized those hopes, and some have got off their nests without any incubation 
and gone farther west to speculate anew, or back east to tell the hardships of 
frontier life. The natural hope of the Lynd settlements was that they could 
keep the county seat, eventually become a railioad town, and thus gain the 
adyantages attached to suih conditions. Their locaiion near the center of the 
county on the Ilcdwooil river and iu the best groves of the countj' seemed to 
make this probable, and it ought to have been so. But tiie hind grant to the 
W. & St. r. R. R. of all the odd sections for ten miles each side the road 
wherever it should be built, was an inducement to make the road as long as 



16 LYON (BOUNTY. 

possible aud to run it where 'it would take in the best lands. Instead ol ruu- 
nnino- anywhere near in a straight line west it therefore ran northwest from 
one corner of the county to the other leaving Lynd ten miles or so south of the 
road. This broke up the metropolitan prospects of Lynd, at least until some 
other railroad shall reach that locality. The railroad reached the Redwood 
river in 1872 aud the next year a vote was taken to divide the county, making 
the west three tiers of towns into Liucoln county, and to move the county 
seat from Lynd to Marshall. By this lime settlement had scattered all over 
the county, aud Lynd was no longer able to hold its former political influence. 
The fact that Marshall was centrally located and on the railroad, the only 
railroad point of any importance in t!ie county at Ihat time, together with the 
combination made by Marshall with the west end ot the county to make a new 
county seat, outweighed the claims ot Lynd, and though the old settlement 
made the best light they could, there was a majority in favor of removal aud 
Marshall became the capital of the new county of Lyon. The rote cast at this 
election on the question ol removal was 397 for, 99 against. 

The election of 1872 left the following county officers: 

Auditor, O. C. Gregg; treasurer, A. 11. Cummiugs; register ot deeds, W. 
H. Langdon; sherift", Jas. Cummings; clerk of court, A. D. Morgan; judge of 
probate, Orin Drake; county attorney, W. M. Pierce; court commissioner, Jas. 
Mitchell; supt. of schools, R. Wait; county surveyor, T. W. Caster; coroner, 
L. Tickner. J. W. Blake oi Marshall was also elected representative. 

The politics of the county prior to the county seat removal in 1873 was about 
lour to one republican. The removal made a division of pai-ties here, and the 
Greeley move comipg on at that time was endorsed by many former republi- 
cans. 

In the campaign of 187-i a people's party was formed which put in nomina- 
tion the following ticket: 

(). C. Gregg, auditor; J. W. Williams, treasurer; G. M. Durst, register; L. 
Turner, attorney; F. Holritz, clerk; J. Mitchell, Sr., judge of probate, T. W. 
Ga.ster, coroner; J. N. Johnson, court commissioner; 0. L. Van Fleet, sur- 
veyor; T. W. Caster commissioner 8d district and J. S. G. Houner ot Redwood 
Falls, seaator. 

There were 453 votes cast in the county giving the following returns: 

For senator, J, W. Blake, 274, J. G. Ilonner, 169; auditor, O. C. Gregg, 
248, S. Truax, 205; treasurer, J. Rouse, 213, J. W. Williams, 229; sherifi', S. 
Webster, 252, IL Tripp, 197; register, S. Grosbeck, 193, G. M. Durst, 149, W. 
Clemens, 0(5; attorney, W.Wakeman, 210. L. Turner, 197; surveyor, C. L. 
A^an Fleet, 360; clerk, O. H. Dahl, 325, F. Holritz, 92; judge of probate, E. B. 



LYON COUNTY. 17 

Jewett, 264; J, Mitchell, 180; court commissioner, J. N. Johnson, ITS, C. A. 
Edwards 149; coroner, D. M. Taylor. 199, T. W. Caster, 127; commissioner 1st 
district. Jas. Mitchell Jr., 97, Jones 18; 3d district, H. T. Oakland, 9G, T. VV. 
Caster, 25. 

This election was carried through with considerable acrimonj-, the begin- 
ning of which was the county seat tight, and enmities were made that were 
several years appearing m county politics. Since that time the vote ot the 
county has been largely republican on general issues and important offices 
with two or three slips ol a local character and from local causes. In 187G 
the district, though largely republican, elected J. VV. Williams of Marshall who 
was born and bred a democrat, to the office of representative. This was ow- 
ing to a party division in Lincoln county, the republican candidate, J. G. Br3'- 
an, not being popular. County offices have also occasionally been filled by 
democrats. 

GRASSHOPPER YEARS. 

The settlers of Lyon county had become numerous enough by 1884, and ao-- 
riculture had become fashionable enough to have by the assessors' rent rfs 
4,245 acres of wheat sown in the county. This at forty bushels to the acre, the 
advertised yield which this county was subject to, would have made the farm- 
ersof the county well fixed, and have opene da considerable business tor oi-ain 
elevators, &c., if there had not been a new affliction iu the germ that was des- 
ined to cloud the the sky of western Minnesota and check the immioratiou 
movmeent now in full development. The railroad had brought manv of the 
comforts of lite, had given the earlier settlers neighbors, a o-ood market and 
the adjuncts of civilization; the first hardships of jMoneer life seemed passino- 
away, and hopes of a prosperous future budded and bloomed under the stimu- 
lus of the growing boom, and Lyon county's glorious destiny was almost man- 
ifest when from the land of the west wind came the omniverous hopper. The 
crop of Lyon county was reduced to an average of not much above ten bushels 
per acre during the visitation ot '74. The eouth part of the county was rather 
badly cut, and other portions were visited enough to frighten the settlers and ' 
I'aise a barrier to immigration. 

It was thought when the hoppers left iu July that no eggs had betm left be- 
hind, and hopes were again raised that this affliction was at an end. lull 
crops were sown in the spring of 1875, though they were sown in the shadow 
ot a great fear which soon became realized. In many places eggs hatched out, 
but t he loss from home-bred grasshoppers was small compared with the de- 
struction brought later by the flying millions from the western hatchino^ 



18 LYON COUNTY. 

grounds. A few weeks before harvest time the air was filled uitli tiiem, and 
the grain fields also. Plans for destroj'ing them were devised, published and 
tried, but it was like sweeping back the tides of the ocean, a never failing sup- 
ply .<^eemipg to be beyond us ready to take the place of those destroyed 
Many settlers gave up the fight and sought the means of living farther oast, 
iState appropriations were made tor the destitute , and£the government made 
laws enabling settlers under homestead laws to leave their lands without for" 
feitureof their rights. This act, though undoubtedly in many cases a medium 
for fraud, Avas a great help to many worthy settlers and saved lands that must 
otherwise have been lost. Bnt the loss to the county in tne stoppage of enu- 
meration and the permanent desertion of settlers was very great, and it did not 
recover from the eflects of the grasshopper ?'aid for sevei'al years. These pests 
coming fiom the hatchmggi'ounds on the dried up slopes of the Rocky Moun- 
tains came in search of food, and stopped when they found it. The country 
east of us was very little hurt, and it is improbable, even should a series ot dry 
years again occur to cause flights of hoppers, that this county will again bo 
reached to receive severe damage, as settlement and cultivation has now ex- 
tended west of us beyond the Missouri river. 

Lyon county, however, lived through this jjeriod of insect afflictions better 
Jhan most of the counties around it. Very little state aid was asked for or ta- 
ien here. The peojDle were poor, to be sure, and some business men failed 
ilrying to carry grasshopper sufferers. County orders also became of slow sale 
at sixt}' cents on the dollar. This last, however, was as much the result of 
former bad expenditures as anything else. A debt of about two thousand dol- 
lars had been saddled onto the county for mostly useless county books, by the 
Artistic manipulation of a St. Paul agent and the ignorance ot the county's 
needs on the part of county commissioners. This with other expenses had 
jnultiplied and increased until it later became necessary to bond the county for 
some fifteen thousand dollars, and a rigid reform was inaugurated with a de- 
termination to keep receipts and expenditures equal. Since that reform the 
debt of the county has only been increased some five or ten thousand dollars; 
and was this spring deemed light enough to safely cover with a $40,000 bond 
Toted in aid of the Duluth, North Shore and Southwestern railroad, which 
bond, however, has not yet been issued, and is under an injunction suit. 

Within the last few years a large immigration has swelled the population ot 
Jie County to nearly 7,000, much of the railroad land has been .sol d , and all the 
government land taken and largely proved up, so that the county's revenues 
will hereafter be much larger than heretofore. 

This, however, is a historical digression. 



LYON (X)UNTY. 19 

In 1874 a grange of Patrons of Husbandry was organized bj the farmers of 
the county, but never accomplished much more than ordinary farmers' clubs. 
A county agricultural society was also organized, and the first fair held at 
Marshall. It was said to be a very respectable county fail-. The society held 
fairs yearly after that w ith the exception of one or two grasshopper years, 
when it had nothing to show, and has now leased a permanent fair ground and 
put up buildings in Marshall for fair purposes. 

An event of '74, also was a grand reunion of soldiers at Marshall, at which 
it was ascertained that a large part of the claim holders of the county had 
been soldiers. This element now supports a large G. A. R. post here. 

AN INDIAN SCARE. 

Two or three families of Norwegians living near Medary started this scare in 
July of 1874, and were probably the victims of a practical joke. They came 
to Lake Benton with the story that Fort Wadsworth, sixty miles from Lake 
Kampeska, had beed captured by the Indians, who had massacred 200 whites, 
and were on their way to Lake Benton were thpy might be expected next day. 
That Flandreau was in flames and everybody fleeing before painted savages. 
Such a report, seemingly well backed up, created a commotion at L<ake Ben- 
ton and Marshfield. Several families fled to Lynd, others held a council ot 
war at Marshfield, and remained.. John Snyder and Mr. Taylor finally deci- 
ded to end the uncertainty by going west, and bravely rode to Flandreau, 25 
miles- Thera everything was quiet and no Indian war had been heard of. The 
return of Snytjer and Taylor ended the scare, and, without doubi, brought x 
feeling of relief to everybody. 

It had been so arranged that most of our county oflicers were elected in the 
even years, and the election of 1876 made the following [changes in county ot- 
ficers: 

Register of deeds, C. L. Van Fleet; sherift', J. A. Hunter; judge of probate 
and county attorney, D. F. Weymouth; court commissioner, £. Lamb; coro- 
ner, J. A. Coleman. The other county oflicers were continued in office. Gor- 
don Watson had been elected county commissioner the year before. 505 votes 
were cast inl87G. 

Two things occurred in 187G that quickeued the public pulse somewhat 
Gold was discovered in the Black Hills and an Indian scare occurred. The 
tormer proved to have some substance to it, but the latter turned out to be 
wholly a shadow. This shadow over in Dakota frightened one or two there 
who came to Lake Benton with a rumor that the savages were again on the 
war path and alter white scalps. This report frightened a few and just a littl* 



20 LYON COUNTY. 

.disturbed a good many. Some left home and sought safety in the towns. En- 
quiry however pi'oved it all smoke, and the public mind soon settled jnto the 
old channels, and the grasshopper question became more talked about than 
Indians. There was no reality out of which to build an Indian scare lor this 

.section except vivid imaginations, 

The politico^ events of 1877 were the election of E. St. Julien Cox to the of- 
fice of'.district judge against Alfred Wallen, and J. W. Williams as represent- 
ative against J. G. Bryan. The defeated candidates were republicans in this 
case. Williams was a resident of Marshall. 

The eleclion of 1878 made the following changes in county offices: 

Treasurei-, G. A. Jacobson; register, "W. M. Coleman; attorney, A. C 
Forbes; surveyor, H. L. Coats; clerk of court C. E. Patterson; county com- 
missioner, G. W. Link. 

In 1879 there were 22,400 acres of wheat sown in the county, but the crop 
was injured by blight as it was everywhere in the state. Lyon county this 
year, however, took the first premium at the state fair for an exhibition of 
grains. There were also 2,500 head of cattle shipped from the county, show- 
ing that stock rai.sing had not been forgotten. 

Bisluip Ireland this year bought nearly ten thousand acres, mostly in We.?t- 
erheim and Grandvievv for a Catholic colony, broke 2,200 acres and established 
<iuite a colony from the old country. 

The assessed valuation of the county was now something over a million and 
:i iuilf. There were 50 school districts, must of which had summer and winter 
schools. The county had four flouring mills, one in Marshall a steam mill. 
Everything was in prosperous shape and the county favorably known abroad. 
There were 420 car loads of immigrants' movables rbceived at the stations in 
the county during the j'ear. 

The election of 1880 elected A N. Dauit^is, register of deeds; S. V. Giue.^- 
beck, C'ironer; V. M. Smith, surveyor. The commissioner districts had been 
reorganized, making live, and Jonathan Owen, M. C. Humphry, Fi-ed Holritz, 
Jas, Mitchell and E. L. ttarr were elected. 

The census of the county taken this year by the U. S. gave Lyon county a 
population of (!,212. 

'J'lie wheat crop of this year was a very good one, 35 aiid 40 bushels- to the 
acre being claimed in several cases. 

In 1882 a si)irit of polilieal unrest had taken possesion of the public mind, 
and the usual convention proceedings failed to satisfy ft had become by 
precedent and practu^e a sort of understanding that the Scandinavians were to 
claim the oflit?e of county treasurer and N. W, L. Jager was nominated at the - 



LYON COUNTY. 21 

couut}- conveotioD. Treasurer Jaeobson, Avho had been in office before had, 
however, been found some $400 short in his accounts and to have run the of- 
fice very loosely. A prejudice against Scandinavians as treasurers, caused the 
calling of an independent convention which nominated R. M. Addison for 
treasurer. Some other changes were also made in the ticket, but the convea 
tion fell into a quarrel, and the democrats issued another ticket, with J. W- 
Williams for treasurer, M. E. MathcAvs for attorney, and D. F. Weymouth for 
judge of probate. There were thus three tickets in the tield. Before the first 
convention a desire to put in new officers all around had shown itself and had 
been worked upon by. intei'ested parties, so that the regular i-epublican nomi- 
nees were largely new men.. The district fight that tall over the office of sen- 
ator between J. W. Blake and V. M. Smith had been a severe one, and the 
Winning of the nomination by Blake had some political peculiarities about it 
that left a divided party in the county and much enmity. The election, there- 
fore was a spirited and somewhat ugly one, resulting in the election oi the fol- 
lowing ticket: 

Auditor, J as. Lawrence; treasurer, R. M, Addison; sherifi", J. F. Ilemore; 
register, R. D. Bumlord; judge of probate, J. F. Brown; uttorne}-, A. C. 
Forbes; clerk of coui't, C. E. Patterson; cuurt commissioner, D. Wilcox; coun- 
ty commissioners, Hugh Neill and Geo. Carlaw. 

L. A. Gregg was elected school superintendent in 1883. 

A VIEW OF THE COUNTY. 

Lyon county has twenty townships as will be seen in the map which accom- 
pianies this book. With the exception of a small portion along the west line 
which is cut by the couteau range, there is very liitle waste land in the county 
and its agricultural I'esources are fully up to the best section of the west. 
With f(irtilc farm lands, and an abundance oi meadows of wild, grass, which 
for nutritiousness holds its own with tame grass, makes the county one of the 
favored spots of southwestern Minnesota for farming, stock growing or dairy- 
ing, and its prairies are fast becoming thritty farms and prosperous homes. 
Several streams, which in the west come properly i"inder the head of rivers, 
flow through the countj-. None of them are navigable however in low w ater 
Lakes dot the topogi-aphy here and there, and the combmation of rolling prai- 
rie, running streams and beautiful lakes makes a landscape that fascinates all 
beholders wiio see it in its summer glor}-. 

Immigration lias been rapidly flowing in till the government land is all ta- 
ken up. There is yet considerable railroad land for sale, and some of the 
lauds of private individuals, taken en speculation and ethciAAi-'c, ean telcuglit 



22 LYON CODNTT. 

from $4 au acre upwards according to nearness to towns. Most of the streams 
have groves of tim))er on them; the Redwood, south ot Marshall, and the Cot- 
tonwood, in Custer and Amiret, having considerable timber. 

Two railroads now run across tne county, shown on the map, and one from 
northeast to southwest will undoubtedlv be biiilt this year. This is one from 
Duluth to Yankton, and will ofter a competing market that will greatly help 
producers here. One other from Iowa, a branch of the Rock Island sys- 
tem, is projected through the county to join the lines of the company north of 
us. This will give more direct access to the Iowa coal fields and cheapen that 
product. 

WINTER STORMS. 

The greatest bugbear, probably, connected with western Minnesota and Da? 
kota in the minds of people who know ot it only by report, is the northwest- 
ern bliz/ard. We do not here mtend to rise as a defender of the blizzard. It 
needs no defender, being usually able to tal5:ie care ot itself. The winter storms 
of the northwest are severe, and the blizzard is a variety of storm unknown to 
eastern sections. Several deaths haye occurred in Lyon county fi*om these 
storms. In the winter of 1872 and '73 one occurred which is said to 
have been worse than anything of the kind since experienced. In Lyon coun- 
ty there were six persons that perished m that storm. Three of the Fox fami- 
ly, Wm. Taylor, James Robinson and a man by the name of Ebersold. Settle- 
ment at that time was sparse, but there was considerable suffering and loss of 
.stock in consequence ot it. The winter of 1875 was also one of frequent and 
terrible storms. Mr. Pierce of Lynd, father ot the Pierces of Camden, was 
lost while trapping, and afterwards found dead. Henry Gibbs of Fairview was 
also frozen to death in one of the blizzards ot this winter, and about this time 
Chas. Taylor, son of the Wm. Taylor frozen to death in 1873, also perished in 
a blizzard. In Oct. 1880 a seyere snow storm visited this section that did 
great damage on account of its coming unexpectedly and so far ahead of sea- 
son. Considerable stock perished in this storm, but we believe there was no 
loss of human life. The toUowino- winter was one of heavy snows and fre- 
quent blizzards. No trains ran from Jan. to April and the fuel supply failed 
in mid-winter. The roads were almost impassable and the little wood that 
could be {Jbtained from the Lynd woods was high-priced and green. The win- 
ter was one that the settlers will lou^ remember. Hay and oats were burned 
where they could be obtained, but there were some families who could not ob- 
tain even hay. Other things also ran short and the settlers on the fron tier in 
tlie winter of 1830 know what extreme privation is. A^ young man by the 
name of Kiel and au Icelander were frozen to deatli near Minneota this or the 



LYON COUNTY. 2S 

sut sequent winter. In 1883 two deaths occurred near Marshall in a February 
storm. Mr. L. C. Hildreth, an old settler of Lyons, attempted to <^o home 
from a neighbors one night in a snow storm, but the storm turning to a bliz- 
zard he lost his way and wandered all night to near [Balaton, where he was 
found dead alter the storm. During the same storm a Miss Eliza Cain at- 
tempted to go home from a neighbor's near Amiret and lost her way. She 
wandered with the storm during the night till frozen and was found dead on 
the prairie at the close of the storm. 

This is a record that we dislike to publish, but it is a part pi our county's 
history. More extensive settlement of the county, the planting of groves and 
a better knowledge of the characteristics of these storms will, we hope, pre- 
vent future accidents of this kind. Aside from a very few of these storms, 
sometimes none during the winter, our winters are accompanied with less suf- 
fering than those of countries east or south of us. Being always dry and 
healthy, the winters of this section as a whole are not a serious brawback, or 
much to be dreaded by those who are prepared for winter weather. 



RAILROAD STATIONS. 



MINNEOTA. 

The most westlerly station on the north branch of the C. & N. W. lines is 
Minneota. 

The town was laid out by the railroad company in ] 876 on section 23 of 
Eidsvold. A store had been opened near here by H, D. Frink who also kept 
the P. O. from 1872 to 1875, when it was transferred to N, W L. Jacer, the 
present occupant. Mr. Jager opened a store in 1874 and moved it to the pres- 
ent site ©t Minneota in 1875. Thi.s was the first store on the site. The same 
year T. D. Seals opened a store there. After the permanent establishment of 
the station by the railroad comp any, business gradually drifted in till the vil- 
las;e is now one of four or five hundred population, with all the usual branches 
of business represented. Minneota is an incorporated village, has a good 
school building, a Catholic church, two grain elevacors with ten horse engines, 
depot buildings, &c., and is on the highroad to prosperity. 

The business record of the town is as follows: 

N, W. L. Jager, general merchandise. 

Hanson Bros., hardware and livery, furniture and machinery. 

T. Hanson, dry goods and groceries, &c. 

T. D. Seals, 

Ole O. Brenna, •' « 



24 LYON COUNTY. 

Theo. Rye, hardware and tinware. 

Wioier Bros., drugs. 

C. Kenyon, farm niacliinery. 

Frost & Peterson, g-roceries 

Davidson Bros,, Bank of Minneota. 

J. C. Peterson, agent for Laird & Norton's lumber yard. 

L. C. Porter, elevator, Wm. Davidson agent. 

Van Dusen & Co., elevator, G. N. Lee, agent. 

P. Ferguson, hotel. 

Tony Winters, harness maker. 

(Jeo. Mantel, boots and shoes. 

Sam Leeland and Arney Rye, blacksmiths. 

Swend Peterson and W. Hester, saloons. 

Dennis Cahil, grocery. 

Dr. Seals, meat market. 

(}. A. Dalman, feed mill. 

Doctors Wimer, Renniger and Sanderson. 

J. R. Smith, depot agent and telegiaph operator. 

The Porter elevato r bought in 1883, wheat, 125,000 bushels; barley, 1,000; 
oats, 15,000. Coal sold, $2,000; flour, $3,000; salt, $600. 

Van Dusen's elevator for 1883 bought, wheat, 150,000 bushels; barley » 
2,-500; oats, 4,000; hides, $1,200. It sold 40 tons of hard coal. 180 tons soft 

25 cords of wood, 70,000 pounds of flonr. 

The Bank of Minneota, of which Wm. Davidson is president, A. D. David- 
son vice pi'csident, A. D. Davidson cashier, reports paper on hand for collec- 
tion, $150,000; exchange business, $200,000; capital stock, $25,000. 

There were 4,911,508 pounds of freight received at the station in 1883, and 
9,609,815 pounds forwarded. 

The Minneota wind feed mill ground in 1883. 15,000 bushels of feed. 

Laird & Norton's lumber yard reports sold in 1883, 1,000,000 feet of lumber, 
150, 000 lath, 500,000 shingles, 20,000 brick, 450 barrels of lime, 100 bushels of 
h air. 

This shows somewhat the business of the town. Its future prospects as the 
seat of the Catholic colony are very promising. 

(JIIENT. 

In May 1878 the village of Grand view was laid out by Mr. Jacoby. In Apri 1 

of that year J. P. Ray erected a store budding and occupied it as groceiy. 
The busmes was not however a success, and the store was closed out in Oct. 
of that year. The postoffice was established in June 1877, with J. M. Vaughn 
P. M. Mr. Vauglui put up the first grain warehouse, and bought wheat for 



LYON COUNTY. 25 

Van Dusen & Co. The postoffice was kept in Ray's store till the collapse 
when it was moved to Vaughn's house, two miles northwest, where it was kept 
till 1880, when it was removed to the town site of Grandviev/. In 1880 J. Fa. 
gen, one of^the Irish Catholic colonists, built the second store, but soon failed. 
R. F. Laythe, built the third store in 1882, occupying it with goods for Olot 
Pehrson of Marshall. He was also made P. M. In 1882 the R. R. Co. built a 
commodions depot. Mr. King was then agent. Van Dusen & Co. built an el- 
evator the same year. John Fodness was then agent till the fall of 1882, when 
Joseph Letourneau took his place. About this time the name of the postoffice 
and station was changed to Ghent by the Belgian colonists. Mr. Loranger 
was R. R. agent then lor a time. In March 1883 Lajthe sold [out to Capis- 
traud & Soucheray, Catholic colonists. Mr. Souchemy bought his partner's 
interest in June following. In Dec. 1883 E. Paradis bought the Fagen store 
and opened a stock of goods. Mr. Story ran a hotel thei'e tor a time in 1883j 
and a blacksmith shop was run. 

The settlement of Ghent is largely by Belgian and French colonist?. With 
the settling up of the vacant lands around Ghent, it will become of much more 
importance, 

AMIRET. 

This station, about ten miles east ot Marshall, was located on its present 
site by the railroad company in 1874. Two years prior to this they had had 
a, switch about a mile southeast of this, and had called the station Coburg after 
Wm. Coburn who started a store on section 32 in 1872. He was also post- 
master. The station has not made very rapid strides toward a village yet, and 
at present has only one store, kept by Mr. Kelly. Several stores have at dif- 
•ferent times been started there, but the settlement prefer to do most of their , 
trading at Marshall and Tracy. Van Dusen & Co. liave an elevator there, the 
railroad company has a fair depot, and the town has a good frame school 
house and a tew buildings. 

BALATON. 

In Oct. 18T9 the village of Balaton was laid out on the northwest corner of 
section 23 on the south side of Lake Yankton, and on the line ot the Dakota 
Central railway. The village has three general stores, one hardware store, 
one blacksmiLhand wagon shop, two liotels, one elevator, one warehouse, lum- 
ber yard &c. David Bell was the lirst to go into business having built a store 

soon after the village plat was made. The business men ot Balaton are: 
N. A. Sanders dealer in hardware and machinery. 
A. Parker, " general merciiaudise. 

J. .^. Moore, •' . " " and drugs. 

J. B. (iibbons, " •' " and postmaster. 



2G LVON COUNTY. 

H. H. Stevenhofter, wheat buyer for Winona Mill Co. 

N. Zechus, wheat buyer forSeafield & Co. 

L. Campbell, justice of the peace. 

W. H. Davy, constable. 

A. N. Daniels, notary public and insurance agent. 

W. Ham, proprietor ot Balaton Hotel, now leased by C. S. Riley. 

E. D. Bartlett, proprietor of Lake Avenue Hotel. 

The village is very pleasantly situated on the lake shore, is in the midst of a 
very rich farming section, and with the filling up of the country by immigra- 
tion will undoubtedly become a thrifty and populous village. 

TRACY. 

The railroad station was moved in 1874 from Summit, across the county line 
in Redwood Co., to its present site on section 23, and named Tracy. The town 
was laid out by the railroad company. H. N. Joy moved a frame building 
li om the farm of E. L. Starr in the fall of that year, and opened the first store, 
lu location was on the corner of Front and Third streets. The Commercial 
hotel was commenced the same year by H. H. Welch, who ran it till 1879, 
when it was bought by its present proprietor, M. D. Gibbs. E. O. Brauns and 
J. P. Davis started stores in 1875. J. M. Wardelljopened a furniture store and 
lumber yard in 187G. In 1878 J. L. Craig, who had been depot agent lor two 
years, opened a livery stable. D. H. Evans a hardware store, Iverson & Thurin 
a general store, and Dr. C. M. Ferro located there. In 1879 Chas. Bohanaan 
opened a drug store, J. J. Hartigan a saloon, F. E. Mallory a jewelry stora, 
John Selck a wagon shop, 1. A. Waldon a meat market, Chas. W. Mam a law 
offic© and D. W. Kutchin started the Tracy Gazette. At this time the Dakota 
Central railroad was built west from Tracy to Volga. The next spring the U. 
S. census gave the village a population of 322. About tnirty buildings were 
put up in 1880 and 1882. The village was incorporated in 1881. A fine brick 
school building was build in 1880, costing $6,000. It has four department*, 
three of which now have schools. In 1883 W. M. Todd, who had been in th* 
mercantile business there for a year or two, bought the Ga^ettt, and changed 
its name to the Trumpet. The li. R. Co. found the obtaining ot water sulicient 
lor railroad purposes an impossibility by sinking wells, and have lately built an 
aqueduct to Lake Sigel. The improvements of the R. R. Company since re- 
moving the division there from Sleepy Eye are quite extensive, and the village 
has assumed a position ot importance as a railroad town. It also has a U. S. 
land office. The present business of the town is shown below: 

General stores — Pattridge Bros,, J. P. Davis, R. E. Hughes, Warren St 
Owens; Iverson & Thurin, A. H. Perry. 



LYON COUNTY. 27 

Groceries and crockery — Gauerke, Weber & Co. 
Clothiag — Jacobi Bros. & Co., John Shea. 
Jewelry and drugs — C. L. Boharnan, F. E. Mallory. 
Meat market— I. A. Walden, J. W. Potter. 

Millinery and dressmaking — Stenernagel & Currie, Warren & Inman. 
Hardware— D. H. Evans, H. Statiord, J. E. Clark, N. Beach. 
Hotels- M. D. Gibbs, Neil Finch, B. K. Cowles, Murphy & McDonald, Lar- 
son Bros., A D. McMasters. 
Livery — Lindsley & Fitch, J. L. Craig, John Germain. 
Laundry — Ching Kee, Mary Otis. 
Shoemaking — Jas. Marshall, Henry Heine. 
Tailoring — H. Alexander, P. A. Lamberg. 
Harness— Wagner & Co. 
Wagon maker — John Selck. 
Blacksmiths — Paul Hangen, John Glynn. 
Novely store — H. F. Seiter. 
Bank ot Tracy — Jessup & Co. 
Barbers — Jackson & Seiter, H. A. Bates. 
Restaurants — C.' J, Gardener, Mary Leavett. 
Furniture— J. M. Wardell. 
Lumber— Warden, Beach & Co. 

Machinery — S. D. Peterson, Marlette and Lloyd, D. H. Evens. 

Elevators— "Van Dusen & Co., Whitten >& Judd, Winona Mill Co., D. H. 
Evans. * 

Coal — Van Dusen. S. J. Randall. 

Saloons — J. J. Haitigan, Fred Lehman, Martin Hose, C. Anderson. 

Beer depots — Aug. Schell, C. & J. Michel, Hartigan & Armstrong. 

Wholesale liquors — E. H. Roach & Co. 

Physicians — C. M. P'erro, Mrs. L. Ferro, S. S. Jones, H. M. Workfnan, O. 
E. Case. 

Attorneys— C. W. Main, Van Buskirk & Brown, John Lind, also receiver of 
U. S. land oiFic<!. 

Tracy Trumpet— W. M. Todd, 

Shating rink — Welch & Davis. 

Postmaster — E. O. Brauns. 

Photographs— ^W. I. Carver. 

Painters — Manuel & Cogswell. 

Express agent— I. E. Segur. 



28 LYON COUNTY. 

MARSHALL. 

The first settlers on the territory now occupied by the village of Marshall 
were C. H. Whitney and C. li. Upton, who came here in 18169. Whitaey took 
the se ] and Upton the ne]. They first built sod shanties, the remains of 
which can jet be seen. At that time there was little to indicate its present 
conditions. The river vyas here and so was an Indian trail from Lynd to Red- 
wood Falls. Outside of these advantages, the present town srte v/^as only good 
farming land. Nov. SI, 1870, the first birth occurred, that of Fannie Whitnej-. 
The first deatli was a daughter of Jas. Armstrong, ot scarlet fever. In 1872 
the AVinona & St. Peter railroad was located through the township, taking in 
section 4, and immigration rapidly set in toward this point. A townsite com- 
pany was formed, consisting of J. H. Jenkins, J. H. Stewart, J. W. Blake, W. 
G. Ward, railroad civil engineers, and C. H. Whitne}', who owned pai-t of the 
land in the proposed site. The viUnge was laid out in August 1872 in the cen- 
tral part of section i. Milo Morse and Mrs. U. S. Stone held the sw and uw 
quarters by government claims located in 1870. The svv was bought of Morse 
and the south halfoJ thene of Mrs. Stone 

The first house on this original plat was the sod house of Milo Morse near 
Van Dusen's coal house. It is stated in the history of Lake Marshall township 
that the first cliild born was a child of one of the Billinccs'. The Billings child 
was the first in the originally platted village, and subsequent to the birth of 
Fannie Whitney, the first in the township. The first store building was the 
one now occupied by J. Gaodwin as a carpenter shop and belonged to Addison, 
Everett & Co. It was put up on Main street in the center of what is now Third 
street. 

The fall of 1872 sav/ the completion ot the railroad to this point, and found 
the following men here in business: Everett & Co., D. P, Billings, J. A. Cole- 
man, general stores; W. M. Todd, lumber yard; DanierFaivjuar, blacksmith; 
Wakenum & Pierce and E. B. Jevvett, attorneys. C. H. Whitney built a ho- 
tel, part of the present Mei chants' Exchange , in the fall of 1872, and was over- 
whelmed with guests. During the fall of 1872 and the spring of 1873 a hay 
stack even had value as a lodging place. The railroad men slept in the lee 
side of a stack as a rule, and three in a bed was a condition of opulence and fa- 
voritism. During one rush for hash at Whitney's hotel the floor broke down, 
filling the potato bins in his cellar full of hungry guests. In these early days 
it is said there were also fleas, and many stories ot midnight misery are told, 
most of which we never believed. 

During the winter of 1872—73 a school was taught in Todd's lumber o.Tice. 
-G. H, Darling began the school, but it was finished by Walter Wakeman. 



LYON C:OUNTY. -3 

The winter was a Jiard one, the railroad, as usual in tiie early years of our 
history, was blockaded most of the winter, and several went east to escape the 
lonesomeness of this kind of exile. The spring of 1873 brought them all back; 
howeyer, and with them a rush of new settlers 

John Ward was R. R. agent for a time. M. E, Wilcox -was telegraph oper-' 
ator, but soon became agent ni place of Ward. Daniel Wilcox opened a black- 
smith shop. Wakeman tt Groesbeok, a physician, opened a drug store, 
Wakeman became postmaster. In August of 1873 J. C. Ervin moved a print- 
ing oilice here (rom Dell Rapids, Dakota, and started the Prairie Schooner, 
the name ot which was suggested bj Gen. Pierce. In its columns at this time 
we find the following here in business in addition to those above mentioned: 

C. Woodburj-, Marshall House; P. Van Zant, Travellers' Rest; J. F. Met- 
calf. biacksmith;> H. S. Adams, wagon shop; J. P. Watson, hardware store; 
Mrs. E. Burrall, milliner; A. O. Underhill, contectionerj', &c. ; Langdon & 
Laythe, lumber yax\l; J. W. VVilliaais, hardware; J. Bagley, meat market; 
Turner & Loojje, lumber, furnitnre and machinery; E. Fuller pliotographs; J. 
W. Blake, agent of townsite company. C. H. Whitney burned a kUn of 85,- 
000 brick this season. The kiln was at the northeast end of Third street. The 
Congregational society put up a building for a church on Main street, the one 
now owned by Geo. E. Johnson. The public school was taught there by Mis.s 

D. Wheeler, now Mrs. G. M. Durst. W. M. Todd went into partnership with 
Coleman & Co. L. Nichols opened a livery. H. J, Tripp was in the machine 
business. A Masonic lodge was formed. J. F. Reichert built his brick block 
of two store buildings in the fall of this year. 

In 1874, Kendall's mill was built, Blake started a cheese factory, B. A. Grubb 
opened a harness shop, Groesbeck sold his interest in the drug store to Whit- 
ney, who also became P. M. The store ^d postoffice v.'ere burned in Dec. 
L. F. Pickard ran a tin shop, A. Bean was a lightning rod agent, M, M. Mar- 
shall opened a fui-niture store and built a -grain 'v/arehouse, C. A. Edwards ran 
a lumber yard. Fuller & Co. a feed store, D. F. Weymouth a law office, Lock-- 
cy & Yates became a firm for masons' work, J. Goodwin & Co. builders, Dr. 
Burgoyne arrived, a brass band was organized, Marcej'es and Reichert being 
its managers. Rev. Galpin, assisted by Rev. E. Goodman conducted tlie M. 

E. church, and Rev. Simmons the Congregational society. Alexander Sauder.s 
was killed by lightning in August on Norton Billing's place. A dramatic so- 
ciety was formed and the play of the People's Lawyer successfully produced. 
A literary society was also organized. 

The spring of 1875, having been preceded by a winter of much .snow, oj)ened 
with a tloodf An ice gorge was formed below the village, and ihe lower parts 
of the town were under' water so much that several families had to be helped 
out with boats. 



30 LYON COUNTY. 

The Prairie Schooner was sold this year to the writer of this book, and the 
name changed in September to the Marshall Messenger. The octagon part ot 
the present school house was built in the spring, Addison & Tripp formed a 
machine partnership, I. i'. Farrington opened a general store, Joe Sears a shoe 
shop, Dr. Newell a dentisfs office, J. A. Hutchins a blacksmith shop, Whitney 
& Webster an insurance office. Everett sold his interest in the store to Addi- 
son & Mott. Geo. Nichols built a brick building, now the court room. A dou- 
ble brick block was built by marshall, Coleman & Co. and C. F. Case at the 
head of Third street. 

In 1876 we find among the new business houses, Keyes & Blake, blacksmiths; 
P. F. Wise, farm machinery; O. Pehrson, general merchandise; Burgoyne & 
Jewett, drugs, which afterwards tell into the hands of C. M, Wilcox; Edwai'ds, 
feed mill; B. F. Jellison, shoe shop; I. Burrall, carpenter; M. M. Marshall, 
drugs; B. Gibbs and D. Crowley, meat markets; Mrs. Clemens and Mrs. Un- 
derbill, milliners; S. J. Watkins, machinery; H. B. Gary, Edwards and Addi- 
son & Mott had grain warehouses. W. M. Todd bought out Coleman and op- 
erated the store alone. 

In 1877 came E. H. Puffer, who sold his goods and disappeared like the 
morning dew, so much ahead of his wholesale men. D. Bell went into the ho- 
tel. W. M. Todd sold out to C. B. Todd, who took W. H. Lynn- into partner- 
ship and afterward lailed. M. E. Wilcox bought out the bankrupt stock of I. 
P. Farriiigton's and after running it a year or so, also tailed. D. Mclntyre • 
went into partnership with J. Andrews Jin furniture, McCormick opened at 
meat market, C. A. Haskel a gunsmith shop, Horton & Hamilton a lumber 
yard with W. M. Todd agent. 

1878 saw Bennett & Hunt in the sale of blooded horses. Hunt afterwards 
bought the hotel which Bell had be«n trying to run. A. C. Chittenden bought 
the Todd stock and opened a store. Griswold »& Hillyer put in the Wisconsin 
store. Thos. Watson built and opened the Marshall House. McNiven Bros, 
stated a livery stable. Drs. Persons, Andrew and Houston, and attorneys 
Chittenden, Forbes, Seward and Gove looaled here (r. A. Tracy opened a 
furniture store, was succeeded by Thos. Wookey. Jewellers W. H. Wright, W. 
C. Kayser, and J. Lohmiller were in business. Aldrich & Houston bought out 
Marshall's drug store. Owen & Dibble opened the Bank of Marshall. The 
Messenger block, six brick stores, was built and occupied by Lyon Co. Bank, 
Schutz & Kyle, dry goods, E. L. Healy, groceries, S. Keyser, clothing, C. M. 
Wilcox, drugs, J. H. Snyder, books, &c. The lust was bought by C. F. Case 
in a few weeks, and clothing store soon passed to Chambers Bros. E. D. Allison 
also occupied rooms as a dentist. Three brick yards were run by Crooker, 



LYON COUNTY. U 

Whitney and Lockey. L. Larake opened a market, having been displaced aa 
R. R. agent. Robt Waldron also opened a store, 

In 1879 we find Laythe & Tripp, machinery; F. Weikle and Lohmiller, mar- 
kets; J. W. BJake lumber yard; F, S. Wetherbee, store; J. F. Remore, machin- 
ery; King & Wakeman, drugs; W. L. Watson, machinery; Youmans & Co, 
with M. Sullivan, agent; Mathews & Andrews uud M. Q. Drew, ullurueys; E. 
J. Harrison, marble-cutter; La3-the & Pehrson, store. VanDusen & Co. built 
an elevater. Todd & Edes started a second paper, the Lyon Co. News. 

By the census ot 1880 the village had a populaticu of about 1,000. Some 
changes have since occurred Blake built an extesive wind grist mill, which 
was traded to Geo. Welch, blown to pieces in the blizzard of Oct. 1880, and, af- 
terward burned. It was fully insured, however. John Berry built a large 
steam mill, and ran it a few months, when it was also burned in the winter of 
1881. A constant shower of tire from it came near burning the whole town. 

The first religious services in the village were by Rev. E. H. Alden of Was- 
eca in 1872, in a tent every other week. Between times the tent was used for 
a saloon. 

The village was incorporated in 1876, but a defective charter caused a .sec- 
ond incorporation in 1881. The incorporation includes sections 4, 5, and 9. 

The Marshall school is now a graded school with four departments and 
about 200 pupils. 

There are two church buildings, Methodist and Congregational, the latter a 
line chui'ch. 

The county owns three buildings in the village, two offices and one used for 
a court room. 

The Marshall postoffice in a Presidential office. W. Coleman .succeeded 
Whitney in 1875, C. F. Case followed in 1878, and S. D. How in 1883. 

There are 17 two story brick buildings and several fine residences. The W. 
& St. P. R. R. Co. have a general land othce. 

The population ot the town is mostly American, and intellectually and so- 
cially the equal ot any community in the west. 

The stores in the village mostly carry exceptionally jlarge stocks of goods, 

and are doing a prosperous trade. The present business of the village is as 

follows: 

Mercantile — A. C. Chittenden, J. Schutz, F. S. Wetherbee, O. Pehrson. 
Edwards & Co., general stores; E. L. Healy, Humphrey & Gail, J. W". Wil- 
liams, groceries and crockery; J. P. Watson, R. M. Addison, (hardware 
and machinery; Youmans Bros, and Horton Lumber Co., lumber; Louis Janda 
boots and shoes; C. M. Wilcox, W. Wakeman, A. B. Sweet, drugs; S. But- 
turfi, furniture; W. C. Kaiser, books, stationery and tobaccos; M. Hooker, 
stationery and tobaccos; Mrs. Hillycr, midinery; J. Price, John Russell, 



32 JvYON COUNTY. 

Mrs. Hicks, bakery and restaui'ant; Fred Watson, harness; Woodruft" & 
Wilber and F. Weikle. meat markets; Parsons it Wise, exclusive clothina:. 

Trades— E. J. Harrison, marble cutter; Arthur M. Nichols, R. B. Vonder- 
smith, B. Vosburg, painters; J. McGandy, photographs; M. H. Gibson, Geo. 
Heinmiller, C. J. Price, 11. Curtis, blacksmiths: S. Marshall, wagon maker; 
J. B. Murray, O. C. Philips, barbers. 

Professions— C. E. Pei-sons, J. Armington, A. Poaps, physicians; E. D. Alli- 
son, dentist; Forbes & Seward, M. E. Mathews, M. B. Drew, D. F. Weymouth, 
E. B. Jewett, E. A. Gove, attorneys; Revs. J. B. Fairbank, Congregational, 
and J. W. Powell, Methodist; Geo. M. Durst, Miss Mikkelson, Miss Downie, 
Mrs. Durst, teachers. 

MisCETXANEOUS — Messenger, C. F. Case; News. C. C. Whitney; elevatoi'S, 
Van Dusen & Co., E. Frick, agent; Porter Milling Co., W. A. Hunter, agent; 
T. King, grist mill; L. Nichols, livery; ^Y. Keith, W. Simmons, H. Hoyt, ho- 
tels, Geo. E. Johnson, cattle buyer; B. Wright, wind feed mill; Peterson & Co., 
tailors; D. G. Stewart, sewing machine agency; C. M. Wilcox, express agent; 
H. M. Burchard railroad land agent; T.A.Woodruff, railroad agent; Van 
Winkle, telegraph operator; Chas Kent, collection agent. Straight & Co. havt 
a large creamery. Woodbury & Frick, own a skating rink. 

Having the county seat, one railroad, and a pretty sure prospect ot two otJi- 
ers, Marshall's future is as bright as that of any town in western Minnesota. 



TOWN OF LUCAS. 



In the noi'th-east corner of the county, and bounded north by Yelk)\v Medi- 
cine and east by Redwood counties, lies the town of Lucj*s; a rich agricultu- 
ral district, and one ot the fairest and best of Lyon County's twenty township;^. 

The ideal Minnesota town, in the minds of those >.vho have paid attt ntiou to 
the topography of our state, is one where rolling pran-ies and sparkling 
lakes alternate with frequency, thus giving, as it were, a dappled scenery no- 
where iound in such pei'fection as in the Gopher State. Lucas is one of t ho; e 
towns. While the prairie is mostly dry, arable land with occasional tine mead- 
ows of rich native grass, free from sloughs and swamps, the water suppl}' of 
the town is ample without permanent rivers or creeks, in its many beautiful lil.- 
tle lakes which are scattered over the whole area of the town. There are sev- 
en clear-water lakes ot respectable size, with high banks, dry beaches, well 
stocked with fish and the resort of thousands ot water-fowl, furnishing va- 
riety and beauty to the prairie scenery, and unparalelled attractions lo ihe set- 
tler and the sportsman. 

In section 3 is Sham Lake, not very large, nor very d«ep, but a pretty little 
body ot water. In sections 4, 5, 8 and 9 a much larger body of water is found, 
called Cottonwood Lake, from several large cottonwood trees on the east cud 
There is also a grove of timber on the north shore. In section 11 is Lake 
Hamre, named from E. T. Harare, a settler near it. It has a little timber on 
the south side. In section 17 a small lake is named Lake Susan on the rail- 
road maps, but called Bogus Lake by the Lucasites. On section 20 and 21 is 
Lady Shoe Lake named from its supposed resemblance to that ariicle. There 



34 LYON COU>iTY. 

38 some timber on the north side. In sections 23, 24, 25 and 26 Lady Slipper 
Lake, somewhat the shape of the last named, but larger, sleeps amid banks 
bare of timber. Just why the larger should be called a slipper and the small- 
er a shoe is one ol those curiosities ot nomenclature that no fellow successfully 
tries to find out. In seotion 36 is School Grove Lake, getting its name, proba- 
bly from its being on a school section and having a grove on its east end. 

These lakes are not, like the lakes of the country south of Minnesota, sur- 
rounded by swamp, but have beaches of sand, gravel and stone. There is us- 
uall}' a deposit of bouhiers aroua'd a part of them. The lakes, too, make very 
little waste land. I^ucas has scarcely any waste land, but is considered one 
of the best towns for agricultural purposes in the west. The W. & St. P. R. 
R.[Co. appreciated this fact to such an extent that they fixed the price of their 
lands in this town higher than in other towns equally distant from the railroad. 
Since then they have withdrawn from market about half their lands there, 
reserving, for purposes best known to themselves, the land in the northeast 
half oi the town. 

The crops ot Lucas have uniformlj^ been good, even in grasshopper years. 
Mr. R. H. Price states that his lowest average of wheat, even in those times 
was nine bushels per acie. In 1883, according to the assessor's returns, there 
were 2,187 acres of wheat sown, 698 acres of oats, 362 acres of corn, 127 acres 
of barley, 20 acres of potatoes, and other crops sufficient to make up a total 
acreage under cultivation of 3,418. By the same report the town had 191 
milch cows, 153 sheep witii ayield of 1,268 pounds of wool. These last faijures 
were considerably increased during tlie summer of 18S3. There are 132 acrea 
of forest treej planted and growing, and 317 rods set out on highways. This 
promises well for the future fuel supply of ttie town, and it is an industry that 
will be more largely' entered into in coming years. The benefits ot cultivated 
limber on our praiiies, both m furnishing luel, beauiifying the tarm and en- 
hancing real estate values, is becoming better recognized and acted on each 
year. 

The chief obstacle to the rapid settlement and development of Lucas hereto- 
fore has lain in its distance from railroad markets. This has been cousidera- 
blv overlooked because of its superiority of soil and lake attractions, and ttie 
town makes a good showing in its farm and home improvenients, but with a 
near railroad it would liave been much more sought alter and have made a 
much better record than it hae. This want ot the town is now in a fair way to 
be remedied. A line of railroad from the south via Worthington and Tracy 
was given a preliminary survey in 1883, and will probably run into or 
very near Lucas. This is one of the projected lines ot the Rock Island system. 



LYON COUNTY. 86 

and will probably be built to a northern connection with Fargo by the way of 
Big Stone Lake, [f built soon it must in all events, greatly benefit i.<ucas bj 
giving it a n«ar market and better facilities for settlement. 

The postoffices of the settlers of Lucas are Vmeland, Wood Lake, Silliards ia 
Yellow Medicine Co. and Marshall. Sham Lake postoffice was kept up for 
Bome years by Mr. R. H. Price who also formerly had a store there, but the 
trouble of running it overbalanced its benefits, and it was discontinued some 
two or three years ago.^ 

The town has no native timber except that on the lakes before mentioned, 
and most of the fuel is bought in Marshall, the trading point for the town. 

Settlement was first made in Lucas about thirteen years ago. In June of 
1871 Wm. H. Slater and R. H. Price came up from Olmstead county and took 
the first claims taken in the town. Mr. Price built the first house, and is still 
a resident of the town. Mr. Slater removed to Pelican Rapids. During the 
same year AUend Christiansoo, Peter Oliason, E. T. Hamre, H. Dahl and Jas. 
Wardrop took claims and settled in the town. Other settlers soon followed, 
and the question of organizing and naming the town began to be discussed. 
Ia 1873 an organization was secured under the name of Canton. This name, 
though seemingly a good one, was uot satisfactory, and it was changed to Lis- 
bon, another good name, but no more satisfactory than the first. Tlie name of 
Moe, after one of the supervisors, was then tried, but was again changed lo 
Lucas, which name seemed to stick. 

The first town meeting, held Aug. 5, 1873, resulted in the election of the fol- 
lowing as the first officei's of the town."; 

Jas. Wardrop, chairman; O. H. Dahl and John Moe, supervisors; R. H. 
Price, clerk; N. T. Dahl, assessor and treasurer; T. S. Norgaard and P. H. 
Dahl, justices; R. J. Benjamm and Geo. Anderson constables. 

In 1873 the cause of education was proved a factor of the public mind by the 
openi'Jg of the first school taught in the town in a small building built by li. 
H .Price on section 2. The teacher was Ella Williams. 

The first child born tu the town was Albert Erwin, Feb. 37, 1873; the first 
marriage that of D. R. Burdette and Alice M. Price, July 16, 1873; the first death 
that of a son of John Krog in winter of 1873. 

The first sermon preached was by Rev. Joseph Williams, a pastor of the 
United Brethren society. How much of the seed thus sown fell on stony 
ground or by the wayside, we have no means of accurately measuring; but 
there arose an awakening of interest in the subject of the latter end of man. 
early in the town's history, and there were soon formed two church orffaniza- 
tious. the Norwegian Lutheran and the United Presbyterian. Rev. J. Hunzi- 



36 LYON OOUNTV. 

ker, a foreign misfiionery for some j-ears. had charge of the former society, and 
Kev. B. McCullough of the latter. 

There are quite a nuiul)er of Scotch settlers in Lucas, largely irora Canada 
and Nova Scotia. In the north part ot the town there are several Scandina- 
vians There are also some German settlers and a good many Americans. 
The iarms generally are thritty, and the farmers prosperous. 

The settlement is pi-incipally on the even sections, having been largely ta- 
ken as government claims. The odd sections, belonging to the W. & St. P. R. 
R. Co. by a land grant, have not yet received many settler, though considera- 
ble land has been sold. 

The present town officers of Lucas are Ole Hattlestad, chairman; John Mc- 
Lennan and E T. Hamre, supervisors; E. S. Reishus, clerk; J. C. Gray, treas- 
urer; J. A, H, Dahl, justice; Chris H. Dahl, constable. 

The settlers ot Lucas are distributed as follows: 

Sec. 2. West halt is owned and occupied by R. H. Price, who has a fine 
farm on Sham Lake. Iver Nelson occupies the west half of the east half, and 
N. Nelson lives on the north east forty. 

Sec. 4. E, S. Reishus has the west half; Aarrestad brothers, the northeast 

quarter. 

Sec. 5. L. P. Aaberg has the northeast quarter. 

Sec. 6. G. Anderson, northeast quarter; J. A. H. Dahl, southeast; N. Ro«- 
vold, northwest, M. Rosvold, southwest. 

Sec. 7. J. H. Anderson has a forty in northeast quarter. 

Sec. 8. C H. Dahl, northwest; A. Barstad, southwest; A. Anderson, soutk- 
east- Mr. Conrad, northeast. There is also a .school house in this section. 

Sec. 10. P. Eliason, southwest; E. T. Harare, southeast; A. Christiansoa, 
northeast. 

Sec. 11. Has a school house near the center. 

Sec. 12. F. Stroschein, northwest; Jas. Wardrop, southeast; T. Bell, north- 
east 

Sec, U. J. Johnson, northeast; A. Miro, southwest. J. W. Blake has tke 

northwcf^t. 

Sec. 15. A Slette in northeast. 

Sec. 10. J. Medboe, 80 in southeast; O. O. Reinholl, in northwest. 

Sec. 18. Ole Hattlestad, southwest; M. T. Ness, northwest. 

Sec. 22. IL J. Meilke, northwest; J. Krog, southwest; J. A. Smith, north- 
east, C. Peterson, southeast. 

Sec. 24. J. C. Lines, southwest. 



LYON COUNTY. »7 

Sec. 26. J. J. Hunziker, east halt; C. Kartowitz, east half west half; F. Q. 
Stroschein, Jr., west half of west half. 
Sec. 28. J. McDonald, south quarter; J. C. Gray, 320 acres, west. 

Sec. 30. Jas. Galbraeth, northeast; John Bonnlman, northwest; Kobt. 
Chalmers, southeast, J. C. Townsend, 80 in southwest. 

Sec. 31. John D. Smith, southwest. 

Sec. 32. Robt. Cummlngs, northwest; Wm. Stewart, southwest; John Mc- 
Lellan, northeast; Thos. Chalmers, southeast. There is a school^house oa 
north line of 33. 

Sec. 34. Jas. Cruikshank, 240 in northwest: Jas. Robertson, southwest, 
Geo. Russell, southeast. 

Sec. 36. P. Schlemmer has a farm in this section, the rest is school land. 

The last assessed valuation of Lucas was $54,140. 

There are three school districts in Lucas. Dist. No. 19 embraces sections 1, 
2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. It had 34 pupils by last school report. ^ Dist. No. 
15 embraces sections 4, 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18. It has 19 pupils reported. 
The rest of the town is in district No, 41, Each district has a school house. 

The projected line of the Duluth. North Shore & Southwestern K. R. runs 
through the town from north to south. 



TOWN OF VALLERS. 



Tho town ot Vallers is town 113. range 41, and is bounded north by Yellow 
Medicine county, cast by Lucas, south b}' Fairvievv and west by Westerheira. 

The first settlement in Vallers was made by Johannes Anderson on section 
6 in 1869. 

The town was surveyed early, but the surveyor neglecting to make proper 
mounds, the stages were mostly burned down by prairie fires, and settlement iu 
the town was, without doubt, delayed considerably by the fau*; that the sec- 
tion corners could not be found. 

In 1872 Ole O.Brenna Sr., Michael Knudson and A. Malde located farms, 
and in 1873 N. L. Jones, N, M. Fiske, Isaac Olsen and perhaps one or two oth- 
ers took up government land in the town, and efforts were made to get an or- 
ganization. It could not be effected, however, till 1876 when the first town 
officers were elected at an election held in O. Brenna's house. They were, S 
W. Laythe, chairman; John Anderson and M. K. Snortum, supervisors; Ole 
O Brenua Jr. clerk and justice; Ole O. Brenna Sr. assessor. 

The report that the first school was taught by J. L. Robinson is incorrect in 
the sense of a public school. He taught a private school on his claim in 
1879 tor the benefit of his brothel's and sister's children. The first public 
school was taught by Miss Lavina Day in 1880. A school house was built the 
same year on the north line of section 29. 

Church services were first held in 1877 at the house of Ole O. Brenna by Rev. 
Kmid Thorstenson, a Lutheran, and a church society was soon after organized. 



LYON COUNTY. 39 

The first birth was John Anderson in 1872. The first marnanje was that of 
Ole O. Brenna Jr. and Anna Olson, Dec. 23, 1877. The first death was that 
of Ole J. Engen in August 1877. 

The only postoffioe in the town is atOIe O. Brenna's on section 4. It wa« 
established soon alter the settlement of Mr. O. Brenna, who has been post- 
master since its establishment. The name of the office, by some misspelling, 
became Brenner and so remains. 

The name of the town has undergone a similar change, probably from the 
same cause. The Norwegian word Vala, meaning a valley, was intended tor 
it, given by the O. Brennas, we understand. But as the name was not plainly 
written or properly spelled it was thought to be Vallers, and so named. To 
one familiar with the topography of the town the appropriateness of the name 
does not instantly appear. Di-ained by Three Mile Creek on the south line 
and the Yellow Medicine on the north, the town of Vallere occupies the high 
land between these two water courses, and is about as lar removed from a 
valley as any point in the county. The name may however have been intend- 
ed as a reminder ot some vala in Norway. 

'J'he town of Vallei's is a town of exceptionally good soil. Everything that 
grows in Minnesota will do well here. 

There were in 1883 1,115 acres under cultivation of which 773 were wheat; 
283 oats; 85 corn 19 barley. 

There were at the same time 53 acres of cultivated trees and 240 rods oa 
highways. 

Vallers has two organized school districts. The northwest quarter of the 
township constitutes No. 56, with 19 pupils reported, Theie is a school 
house on section 8. The southwest quarter of the town forms district No. 48, 
with 11 pupils reported. School house on section 29. The east half of the 
town is not yet organized. 

The last assessed valuation of the town is $29,782. 

The town has at present no trading p.oiut, Marshall being its market town; 
but the proposed railroad line from Diiluth to Yankton will undoubtedly give 
the town a station at or near its southeast corner. 

The Yellow Medn ine river cuts the northwest corner of the town and Three 
Mile Creek makes a bend into its south tier ol sections. 

On section 29 and adjoining sections Ihere is a large marsh, called the Big 
Slough, which is the home of thousands of water fowl and the resort of sports 
men in proper season. 

(Considerable state land, mostly university land, is still viieawt in the towa, 
and the Southern Minnesota R. R. Company have some sections there *Mll u 



^ LYON COUNTY. 

«old. These make a vacauttra^t of country through the central and ea.ter» 
portions that the mhabitants would like to see settled. The town of Val lers ^ 
Ltled mostly by Norwegians, who are. as a general thing. ^1^-^^;^^;-;^^ ? 
•omfortable homes and on good tarms. There are one or two Iceland ta.m- 
lies here, and m the south part of the township a few Americans have taken 
farms. The settlers are located as follows: 

Section 2. se G. O. Aamat; sw H. Olson; nw A. S. Malde. 

Section 4, nj E. Varpnes; se M. Knudson; sw Ole O. Brenna br. 

Section 6, el ne Andrew O. Andersoft; nw John Anderson; sw Ole Ander- 
son; se O. A. Anderson. 

Section 8. e.} sw T. Tostensen; se O. J. Ullen; ne Ole O. Brenna Jr. 

Section 12. nw E. S. Roti; se J. Roti. 

Section 18, sw I. Olsen; nwM.Osnes. H.^^.-inld 

Section 20, nw O. H. Miller; sw C. O. Hovde; ne S. Thon; se R. Haa.kjold. 

Section 22, nw K. Sweuson; ne Ole Lende. 

Section 26. ne H. Solberg; nJ se H. W. Throop; sJ se A. Baldwm; nw J. L. 

Robinson. 
Section 28. n\ S. li. Thorsness. 

Section 30, ne Ole E. Borthus; nw M. O'Tool. 

Section 32, sw N. L. Jones: se N. M. Fisk. 

Section 34, sw Cox Brothers; e.J Langdon farm. 

Durin- the Indian war of 1862 some of the skirmishing, it is thought, ex- 
tended into this locality, as a skeleton was dug up on section 34 some two or 
three years ago whioh was supposed to be that of a soldier. A mask thought 
to be once a soldier^sc.p rested over the face, and other signs convinced the 
liuders that It was the skeleton of one ot the scouts or soldiers ot the Indian 

"" Section 34 has been a historic section in Vallers, and has furnished much ma- 
terial for gossip among the denizens of that "vallev" N. B. Langdon took up 
the east half of the section several year. ago. opening thereon the "Brookheld 
farm " stocked it with fine sheep, erected good buildings and made the farm 
famous as a sheep farm. There was not much domestic harmony however. 

between Mr. and Mrs. Langdon, and the latter was one day found dead with 

. . „„.,». #^;o«/-k1rol•fl(1 fnr the steu 



chlorulovn in the room. No especial re.ison was ever discovered for the step 
at that time, but the coroner's jury brought in a verdict of suicide. Thjs 
shocking event gave rise to much talk in the town and out oi it. Mr. Lan^- 



d„„ fro^ that Umo tell into b»bits of dissipation, from which he ha<l for sev- 
eral years kept free, andthe stoek Urn, oegan to lose its fame through neg- 
lect a„.n,a,l n,a„asement. A short time after the suioMe of h,s "J^^ J-^f 
,lo„ went to St. Paul, and while there married a Mrs. I arnngton. Th.. m«- 



LYON COUNTY. 41 

riage was not a happy one. Langdon repented of it before the week was out, 
and returned to Vallers alone, where his new wife soon followed him, de- 
tei'mined not to be shaken oflf from her husband and her acquired interest in 
the Urookfield farm. A domestic fight that became the talk of the country en- 
sued and ended every night, like a Ledger story; with a "To be continued.'" 
Mrs. Langdon was a woman of remarkable grit, and dared death and destruc- 
tion for her rights, sticking to the farm through threats ot everything terrible 
and some actual assault and battery, out of which grew law suits, and finally 
desertion of the field by Langdon and peaceable possession by Mrs. L. except 
by law suits to exclude her. The tarm was stripped of everything saleable, 
and the Brookfield stock farm is now but an episode of history. 



TOWN OF WESTERHEIM. 



Westerheim is one f)fthe north tier of towns, lyino; south ot the line of Yel- 
low Medicine county and Ijounded east by Vallers, south by Grundview, west 
by Noidland. By government survey it is town 113, range 42. 

The town is watered by *.he Yellow Medicine river which runs into the towa 
Irom the west and flows across the town, going ont at tlie northeast corner. 

The town is well watered by this and the small water courses that lead into 
it, and it is one of the bf st tracts in the county for eitlier grazing, dairying or 
general agnculture. Though it has several miles of river there is no native 
timber except one large cottonwood on section 19, a land mark known as the 
lone tree. There was another similar tree on section 8, but it fell a sacrifice to 
hard times during the bloikade and fuel famine of 1881. 

The first settlement was made by Halvor A. Nyhind in 1871 on section 30. 
The same year Thorbjin Aadson settled on tlie same section. 

No town organization was efi'cctid till) 1876, the first election being held at 
the house of P. Jolmson May 9th of that year. The first town ollicers were 
Halvor Nyland, ch-iirman; O. J. Moe and Hans Samuelson, supervisors; 0. L. 
Urscn, c'erk; Andrew Lee treasurer; Thorbjon Huso, ajssessor; John HsLad 
and il. P. Johnson, justices; 11. Hanson and T. Opdahl, constables. 

In June 1874 the first marriage, a double one, was celebrated, H. A. Nf- 
land and Ingi^r Olson, and T. A. Huso and Carrit; Olson being theparLies most 
interested. Mr. Nyland's wife died in September of the same j'ear, being iho 
liret death in tlic town. The first birth was a daujrhter to John llstad in 1873. 



I.YON COUNTY. 43 

No public school wp^ taught ia the town till 1877 when Knud Fodnes taught 
a term. 

The nearest railroad station and trading point to Westerheim is Minneota. 

Prior to the taking of several sections of railroad land iu this town by Bishop 
Ireland for the use of his Minnesota colony the settlement of Westerheim was 
aln^ost exclusively Scandinavian, mostly from Norway. Some Icelanders have 
settled in the town, and in the south and southeast portions a few Americans. 
Belgian and French have located homes. 

There are now two oi-ganized school districts. All of the east half ot the 
township except sections 34, 35, 36 constitute school district No. 3, with a 
reported scholarship of 47. District No. 54 is formed ot sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 
17, 20, 21, 28, 29 with 27 pupils. The school officers of the district are Snori 
Hoffnason, director; O. L. Orsen, treasurer;©. I. Leeland, clerk. Both dis- 
tricts have built school houses, and the educational intei'ests of the town are 
properly looked after. 

District No. 3 has a school house on section 11 which is 18 by 24, seated 
with the Racine perforated seats. Capacity 40 pupils. District organized in 
1877. Present enrolled scholarship, 41. 

The name of the town, meanino; Western home, was very appropriately 
chosen by a people who appreciated the word home, and who saw in tlie fer- 
tile acres ot the town the requisites of successful farm life. There are many 
thrifty farms in the town, and good buildings, which indicate that the settlers 
have come to stay. 

The assessor's report of 1883 gives the town 2,905 acres under cultivation, 
of which there are 1,607 in wheat, 514 oats, 208 corn, 528 barley, 26 potatoes, 
22 flax. There were by same report 70 acres ot cultivated trees, 415 rods set 
on highways. 

The last assessed valuation of Westerheim was $39,236. 

Its present town officers areOle L. Orsen, chairman; J. C. Rogde and Snori 
Hognason, supervisors; Ole I. Leeland, clerk; Oluf L. Orsen, treasurer; O. J. 
Moe, assessor; Geo. Richardson and Ole I. Leeland, justices; Wm. Marshall 
and EllingOxaas, constables. 

Westerheim' s present residents are located as follows: 

Section 2, ne K. J. Hall; se S. Sigurson; sw Ole Thompson; nw K. T. Thom- 
son. 

Section 4, ne C. Johnson: se E. J. Oxaas; sw John Peterson; nw S. Hog- 
nason. 

Section 8, nwM. Oliver; sw Oluf Orson; ej Joseph Josephson. 
Section 10, wj Andrew Hellickson; w^ e^ S. Johnathanson; e| ej B. Gill- 
eson. 



44 LYON COUNTY. 

Section 12, sw K. Brought on: el nw and wJ ne Hans Samuelson; ne Heurj 
Samuelson. 

Section 14, ne John Stensrud; se E. Fjeldstad; wi se and ej sw G. Johnson; 
nw G. Peterson. 

Section 16, nw E. Bjornson. 

Section 17, sw Walter Walsh. 

Section 18, se 80 Lars Orson; rest of east half. Ole L Orson; swO. J. Moe. 

Section 20, nw B. L. Leeland, sj H. P. Johnson; neO. I. Ijeeland. 

Section 22, ni nw E. Cassady; s] nw W. Sanden; ne Alex DeWitt. 

Section 24, ne Chris Johnson. 

Section 20, se Wm. Marshall. 

Section 28, nw J. C. Roode; sw F. DeRen. 

Section 30, nl H. Aadson Njlaud; s.] ne R. Hanson; se Ole O. Skogen; sJ nrvr 
J. Ilstad; sw A. DeZutter. 

Section 32. nw R. Hanson; sw Andrew Lee; se Opdahl. 

Section 34, nw D. Van de Norstyne; sw Andrew Opdahl; se Van Halsbeck. 

Near center of east line of section 8 the Yellow Medicine river is spanned by 
a truss bridge 128 feet long. This bridge was built by L. Jacobson. Fund* 
were appropriated by the state legislature in 1883, under supervision of O. L. 
Orsen, O. I. Leeland and Snon Hognason. 

O. L. Orsen has on his farm in section 18 a flowing well, perhaps the only 
artesian well in the county. It is, however, but ten feet deep, and the water 
was found alter boring through a stratum of soapstone underlying six or sereB 
feet of blue clay. The water is strongly tinctured with iron it is said. 



TOWN OF STANLEY 



Stanley, which is town 112, range 40, is bounded east by Redwood county,, 
and north by the town of Lucas. It is a prau'ie country, having very little tim- 
ber. A few trees are scattered along the two rivers which unite in Stanley, 
and a part of the grove on the south shore of Swan Lake, which lies on the 
eastern line, runs over into this town. But, as in all thrifty praine towns, the 
settlers ot Stanley have given considerable attention to the cultivation of forest 
trees, and substantial young groves that are full of future promise, can now 
be seen in all parts of the town. 

The assessor's report tor year 1883 gives 81 acres of forest trees planted. 
This is not as large an acreage as is shown by Lucas or Fairview. but perhaps 
the assessor was weaker in addition than those of Stanley's sister towns. Au 
assessor with a keen vision and healthy imagination is an invaluable assist- 
ant in a town's statistics. 

The reports of the United States census takers demonstrate that the esti- 
mates of local assessors are uuilbrraly too low, and that the towns are, as a 
rule, better off than the statistics make them. 

Stanley's agricultural statistics for the year 1883 shov^^a total acreage under 
cultivation ot 2.17o, of which 1,269 were in wheat, 512 in oats, 224 in com, 
134 in barley, 18 in potatoes, 14 in timothy, 12 in flax. This was an increa.9e 
over 1882 of 483 acres for total cultivation. The last average yield of wheat 
reported is between 14 and 15 bushels per acre; oats, neai-ly 40: corn, a frac- 
tioQ over 17; barley, about 24J; potatoes, 140, flax about 10. 



46 LYON COUNTY. 

The town had in the spring of 1883, 101 cows, and 130 sheep yielding 540 

pounds of wool. 

The settlement of Stanley dates back to December 1867 when T. W. Caster 
located on section 24. His son Huoh was born in 1868 and was the first birth 
in the town. Daniel Munro settled on section 12 in 1870. In 1876 a town or- 
ganization was effected, and an election ordered in September. The town was 
at this time named Delavan. This name was changed to Stanley, and an elec- 
tion had March 12, 1878, at which time the first town officers were elected as 
follows: 

F. B. Patterson, chairman; C. A. Knox and C H. Currie, supervisors; D. T. 
Ludwig, clerk; Edward Wilson, assessor; S. C. Knox, treasurer; Duncan Mc- 
Kinley and Edward Wilson, justicesi Thomas Savage, constable. 

The first sermon preached in the town was by Rev. E. Wilson, a Methodist, 
at Mr. Currie's, July 13, 1873, nearly seven years after the first settlement of 
the town. It is said that Caster and his neighbors during those seven years 
had grown lax in Sunday observance and were greatly m need ol religious in- 
struction. • 

The first school was taught by Ann Munro at the house of James White in 
the summer ot 1875, school district No. 29 having been organized the fall be- 
fore. The school house was built in 1880. 

Ceresco postoffice, with Caster as postmaster, was established in 18 72, It is 
now discontinued. 

The first marriage was Daniel Munro and Ann White, November 12, 1874. 

The first death was Charles Knox, November 1876. 

The assessed valuation of the town in 1883 was, personal property, $5,823; 
real estate $30,845, 

The town ot Stanley is one of uniformly good agricultural lands, free from 
swamp or stony ridges, and almost every section is well adapted to general 
farming and grazing purposes. The hay lands of Stanley are very valuable 
and ample for the needs of the town. 

The town is well watered by the Redwood River and Three Mile Creek, the 
two uniting in section 17. The Redwood runs across the town from west to 
east. 

Swan Lake is on tha eastern edge, touching sections 1 and 12. The lake is 
mostly in Redwood county. It is a beautiful lake with wooded shores and a 
favorite resort for sportsmen and picnic parties. 

There are three organized school districts in Stanley; the northeast quai'ter 
©f the town being No. 34, in which 14 pupils are reported; the northwest quar- 
ter No. 29, with 18 pupils; the southwest quarter and sections 22, 37, and 84 



LYON COUNTY. 47 

No 16, with 15 pupils. The rest of the town is not yet organized. There aro 
school houses in sections 12, 8 and 28. 

The residents ol' Stanley or those owninaj houses there are distributed as fol- 
lows 

Section 1, nwJ. McFagen. 

Section 2, e| J. White; sw Munro; nw John Garry. 

Section 4, ne W. Stewart; se T. McKinley; nw D. McKinley^. 

Section 6, ne Ceo. Michie; sw J. Glaslien; nw G. Lowe. ' 

Section 8, sw J. F. Gibb; se W. T. Neill; n| James Dick. 

Section 10, sw James Garry; se J. Russell. 

Section 12, Sj R. Cavanagh: nw John Noble. 

Section 14, e^ C. H. Currie; sw T Savage and E. Easier. 

Section 15, nw W. Waroke and H. Wenholz. 

Section 18, se Mrs. G. Palmer; swMi-s Heskett and Mrs. Knox. 

Section 19, nw H. G. Heilman; sw R. Heilmau. 

Section 20, nw N. Wasson; sw H. Lovelace; ne C. A. Knox. 

Section 22, s| Geo. Camp and Fred Beltz. 

Section 24. center, Mrs. W. Wilson. 

Section 26, ne P. Kenndy; se Geo. Bissett. 

Section 28, ne D, H. Tichnor; nw S, S. Kno.<c; sw C. E. Patterson. 

Section 30, n^ Wm. Rich; se T. D. Ludwig; sw Chas. Kennedy. 

Seection 32, nw Chas. Higbee; ne H. J. Sj^rague. 

Section 34, sw D. N. Mason. 

The population of Stanley is mostly of Scotch descent m the north half of the 
town, and American in the south half. In thrift, enterprise, general intelli- 
gence, and all the requisite social and moral qualities, the people of Stanley 
are second to those of no town in the west. 

Marshall is the postoffice and trading point for Stanley at present; though 
the town has railroad prospects that may in the near future give the town one 
or more railroad station and the advantages that go with such acquisi- 
tions. The preliminary survey of the branch line of the Itock Island company 
indicated that Stanley would yjrobably be one of the towns passed through 

and theDuluth, North Shore & Southwestern company's line from St. Cloud, 
yia Wiimar and Marshall lo Pipestone and Yankton will vta-y likely cut across 
a part of the town. 

But with or without any other railroad facilities than those now furnished at 
Marshall, the town ot Stanley off'irs an attractive field to ihose looking fn- farm 
homes. With unsurpassed soil, rich meadows, rivers and lalie attractioni* 
there can bi^ little said in praise of any tovvnship of ihe county that cannot be 
said of Stanley. Its future as a rich agricultural town is as unquestioned as 
the luture of the state. 



TOWN OF FAIR VIEW. 



Fairview lies six miles from both the east and north lines of the county, be- 
ing in town 112, range 41. It is bounded on the north by Vallers, east by 
Stanley, south by Lake Marshall and west by Grandview. 

The town was first settled in 1870 by Wm. S. Reynolds who moved hei'e- 
fiom Pa. Joseph Carter settled in the town about the same tmie. The next 
year J. W. Elliott. Seth Johnson, Richard Blake, John Hanlon, R. C. Beach, 
O. Marron, W. ('. Robinson, John Brown, F. D. Wasson, M. Atherton, R. 
Henshaw, Henry Gibbs and H. G. Howard seltl^d in 1873. This gaye the 
town the character of a thrifty settlement, and inspired the desire for organi- 
zation, which was effected iu 1873, the first election being held at the house of 
J. W. Elliott. The following ticket was elected, constitutmg the first officers 
of Fairview: 

Harmon Lovelace, chairman and justice; John W. Elliott and V. M. John- 
son, supervisors; John Buchanan, clerk and justice; B. C. Emery, assessor; 
(). Marron, treasurer; W. S. Reynolds and A. Williams, constablies. 

With the organizatiojj of the town came also church and sctool organization. 
Rev. Geo Spaulding settled here in 1873 and gave religious services at his 
house. Tlie first school was taught by Ada Kennedy in 1874 in a granary be 
longing 10 Thos. Lindsey. 

These were years of comparative prosperitj- and gilt-edged hope, and the 
.settlers who came here came to found homes for the future. The first mar- 
riage was that of Walter Woodruli" and Julia Lovelace; the first birth, Walter 



LYON COUNTY. 49 

Reynokls. in April 1871: and tlie first death ti)at ol Mnry Gibbx, mother of 
Henry Gibbs, in December 1871 at the age ol 90 years. There have been 
many marriages and births since but very few deaths. The death of Henry 
Gibbs occurred in the winter of 1874 as the result of being lost in a blizzard. 
He and his wite were visiting at a neighbor's hou.se, and started home in the 
evening with an ox team. On the way home a blizzard suddenly arose, and 
the party soon lost their way and drifted with the storm over into Stanley, 
where they ran into a slough and broke down. The only thing then possible 
to do was to fix as much ol a wind break as possible with the wagon box and 
wait for daylight. Daylight came, but the blizzard still raged, and raged 
through the day and night following as only the storms of the northwest can 
rage. When it sufficiently cleared to see the way, Mr. Gibbs made out to 
reach a house and send a party lor his wife, who was rescued and recovered, 
with no serious loss except the partial amputation of a foot. Mr. Gibbs how- 
ever, had been so badly frozen that h*:; soon died. 

Fairview, as its name implies, is a beautiful prairie township vvbloh, espec- 
ially in early summer, spreads out a landscape of lovliness nowhere else equal- 
ed but on the green, rolling prairies, and under the clear atmosphei'e of. 
Minnesota. 

Its soil is of the richest in the west, and among its thirty-six sections there is 
scarcely a waste acre. When its fertile lands are all settled and improved it 
will be one of the richest agricultural townshios in the west. 

It is watered by the Redwood river, which runs in a northerly direction into 
the town to near the center, when it turns east and rune into Stanley; also by 
Three Mile Creek, which by a large bend into Vallers cuts the northwest and 
northeast corners of Fairview, also running out into to Stanley. Th ere are a 
few trees along the streams, but nothing that deserves the name of timber. 
The fuel suppl}' of the town is obtained at Marshall, except on two or three 
farms where cultivated timber has grown large enough to be used for fuel 
Timber culture in Fairview has been thriftily attended to, and the last asses- 
Bor's report gives the town 132 acres of growing timber. There are several 
very fine groves. 

In 1883 there were 3,962 acres under cultivation, of which there were 1.070 
of wheat, 1,060 oats, 569 corn, 286 barley, 43 potatoes, 4 flax. 

There were by same report 109 cowa, and 202 sheep yielding 1,040 pounds 
of wool. 

There are two organized school districts in Fairview. The northeast quar- 
ter of the town and sections 22, 23, 24, constitute No. 26, school house in 
Borthwest quarter of section 14. Number of scholars reported, 19. The 



50 LYON COUNTY. 

northwest quarter ol the town ami sections 20 and 31 make No. 27, with school 
house on the north hue ot section 17; 22 scholars reported. The south two 
tiers of sections, except section 30 are in Marshall independent district No. 8. 

The settlers of Fairview are mo6tly Americans and intellectual ihrilty fann- 
ers, who are prospering and building up handsome and comfortable homes. 
The present residents or those owning houses are distributed as follows: 

Section 2 is entirely owned by the Weymouth family, D. F. Weymouth hav- 
ing a house on the northeast quarter. 

Section 3, s] D. Alexander. 

Section 4, neM. P. Jewett; nw Cox Bros.; !iw H. Edwards. 

Section 6, m^ R. C Beach; se J, L. Gee. ' 

Section 7, no C. L. Wiley; se Philip Rue. 

Section 8, nw A Paul; sw Neill; se O. Marron; ne Mrs. Meacham- 

Section 10, nw A. and B. Hanlon; ne G. M. Robinson; se W. C. Robinson. 

Section 11, Kev. Graves. 

Section 12, si nw O. F. Walter; aw I. Lindsey. 

Section 14, ne B. C. Emery; nw I. Lindsey; sw and si se Alex and I). D. 

Section 15, Wliitiiey & Keith. 
Forbes . 

Section 17, se F. J. Parker. 

Section 18, nj ne J. Hanlon: s.] ne M. Han.'on; se H. Smith; sw J. A. Hun- 
ter; nw R. Blake. 

Section 20, n.] J. W. Dickey: se H. G. Howard. 

Section 21, sw Kinney; w.} se W. P Thayer; ei ne L. K. Thaver. 

Section 22, ne J. Brown and R. Heughaw; sw F. 1). Wasson. 

Section 24, ne W. D. Lovelace and D. T. Hancc. 

Section 26, sw John Cummings. 

Section 27 s^ Jas, Lawrence- 
Section 28, ne E. C Pierce; se M. Potter; sw Rev. Spalding; nw A- C. 
Forbes. 

Section 30, ne A. Baldwin; nw Setli Johnson, sw D. Tiiomas; «e L. Tichnor. 

Section 32. ne E. B Jewett; se E A. Edwards, si sw Mrs Coleman. 

Section 31, nw J, W, Elliott; se W, S. Reynolds. 

Section 36, se 120 m wi E. (). Barnard. 

Considerable railroad land has been sold in Fairvicvv, and a good deal of 
land is under cultivation that has no buildings on it. 

The last tissessed valuation of Fairview was, parsonal, $1 2,812; real, $06,935. 



CATHOLIC COLONY OF GHENT. 

TOWNS OF GRANDVIBW, WESTERHEIM AND VALLBRS. 



The first question asked by Catholic s intent one migration is whether or no 
they can receive the consolations oiiiutir religion. 

After starting his colonies, Right Rev. Bishop Ireland of St. Paul met those 
wishes, and attracted to our state many rich and moral people. In order to 
organize divine worship, the enterprising bishop tries to put the Catholics all 
together, and also he enables them to support their priests and build churches. 

In Lyon county he reserved the five northvA-^est townships for Catholics. He 
made from Nordland and Eidsvold the colony ot Minneota for the Irish and 
English people: and from Grandview, Westerheim, and Vallers the colony of 
Ghent for the Flemish and Canadian people. Here we will speak for the lat- 
ter colony. 

It was only in 1881 that the colonists began to arrive in Ghent. Over the 
immeasurable ocean lies a small land the most thickly settled and the best 
cultivated in the world. It is tne kingdom of B'^lgium. No larger than 10 
counties of Minnesota it contains nearly 6,000,000 inhabitants, 462 in a square 
mile! so that on an average each Belgian should not have two acres of land. 
Every spot of land is cultivated with extreme care, and whole Belgium seems 
to be the agricultural garden of Europe. 

But such a dense population makes great concurrence amongst the laborers. 
Heavy i-ents and taxes are to be paid, and manui-e, weeding and toiling are 
very expensive. 



52 LYON COirXTY. 

The enticing pamphlets about the. Catholu* colonies reached those actire 
people. Many were moved on hearing from that immense tertile prairie land 
which claims wiilmij hands to become verj fertile. But the old people, feel- 
ing themselves very comfortable at home, do not move as quickly as the bold 
Americans. Tbere came about 50 Belgian lamilies, and others are preparing 
10 follow. 

The pioneer ot all these settlers was Mi'. Angel VanHee. He was conducted, 
here by Right Rev. Bishop Ireland and by his brother canon Peter VanHee, % 
well informed man living in Liverpool. He was so much pleased with the ap- 
pearanije ot the soil of Ghent that he made immediately his choice on the very^ 
land where he is now living. Though he traveled through the whole country, 
he did not" lind abetter place; and he bought half a section. Immediatelv he 
hired more than 20 teams, and before starting he saw 100 acres broken. Then 
he went to Flanders, a co unty of Belgium, to get his wite and nine children, 
and to give good information to his friends. Returning, he built a large farm 
house, whicii still remains the largest ot the country. 

Meanwhile, to attract the Flemish people as to a new Flanders, the former 
name of the village of Grandview was changed to the name of the old city ol 
Flanders, Ghent. 

The family of Mr. VanHce,Mr. Uavid "N'anHee and the widow of Mr. Modest 
VanHee, bought large tracts of land, and built fine store houses in European 
style. Mr. De Zutter took half a section of land; Mr. Vandewoestyne. Mr. 
Decock and Messrs. Vergote and Foulon bou2:ht improved farms of 160 acres. 

In January 1883 Father Cornelif?, pastor of Miuneota, went to Belgium and 
Holland and gave lectures on the colony of Ghent. Many were moved Witli 
him came-Father Y. Devos, wfio wa.? appointed pastor of Ghent; Mr. J. Lam- 
bert, several farms; Mr. Princen. who purchased an improved farm near 
town; Messrs. Schreiber, Haerts, Maertens, Depuydt, !Mossine, Dicken, Sandy 
iii;d Ihev all settled on large farrcs. and built comfortable houses. Messrs- 
Clayes, Feters, Vander.Bogaerde, (lombeK, Baumans, Uelmeule, Hendrick, 
Riviere, have oeen looking around till now for ottier business. 

Nearly every week there M'ere new-comers buying railroad land or improv- 
ed farms; for instance, Messrs. Dereu, VandenAbeele, VanSpruudel, Vankeu- 
len, Engels, Dobbeldere, Blauvvette. Blowers. Mr. Maenhoudt has moved to 
Marshall to rent an improved farm. There is now an impulse given, and 
man}' more will come, provided the emigrants continue to enjo}' this counlry. 

Meanwhile there was rapid immigration of French Canadians from Kanka- 
ke Co.. 111. Fmdnff themselves too thickly settled in that state, those coura- 
geous people were looking around not only in Minnesota, but also in Iowa 



LYON COUNTY. 5$ 

aud Dakota, but they preferred our state. Two energetic men, Mr. Letoumeaa, 
and Mr. Kegnier, came during the summer 1882. They traveled through 
some soutQwestern counties, especially through Pipestone, and finally prefer- 
red the colony of Ghent. 

Immediately they bought a great quantity of land, and acted with such 
activity that in 1882 they had more than 3,000 acres ot R. R. land, and 1,000 
acres more in the following summer of 1883. 

Mr. Letourneau became agent of the depot, and his oldest son agent ot the 
elevator for Mr. Van Dusen; his two other sons purchased land near the town. 
Mr. Paradis bought a store house and 240 a^res ol land; his sons, Aniilien and 
Cyrille. 240 acres; his nephews, Suprenant-Lord aud Lord Paiadis, more than 
half a section; Messrs. Anton_y Paradis, Suprenant- Prairie and Metty entered 
large improved farms. Mr. Regnier and son bought nearly a section; Mr. 
Carrou has 400 acres; Mr. Lebeau now has 820, and both built a large 
and handsome larm house in American style. Mr. Padnaud has 80 acres; Mr, 
Duchene, Mr. Novell, Mr.Emilieu Surprenant each 160; Mr. Carron has 200 
acres in Vallers. Some others haye bought land and are expected next spring. 

The arrival of these people in spring was very encouragmg. They filled a. 
whole train, several freight cars and a coach. There were furniture, horses 
and cattle enough to provide a whole township. There were about 50 person* 
and more than one Illinois horse for every one. 

We have also some Irish Catholics, Messrs. Cavanaugh, Ford, Cassidy, etc. 
and some Germans, as Messrs. Schreiber, Haerts, etc. The arrival of these 
new-comers was saluted with favor by all intelligent Americans as being a. 
great benefit for the country, for they brought in a good deal of money; they 
raised the value of property; and they gave occasion to sell improved farms 
dearer than anywhere on the prairies of Minnesota, Hence they were always 
welcomed among the old settlers and treated by nearly all like brothers. 

The village though young and small is veiy thriving, having a depot and an 
elevator; Mr. Soucheray has a stock of general merchandise, and Mr. Kmilicii 
Paradis has also established a store. Mr. Gets has a hotel and a tinware 
shop; Mr. Vergote has a blacksmith shop; Mr. Cool is a carpenter and wagou 
maker; and Messrs. Lebeau, Paradis and Carron were well-known carpenter!* 
in Chicago; Mr. Angel VanHec and Mr. F. Gets are preparing a brickyard lor 
next summer. Brick making is very well known among the Flemish, who all 
live in brick houses in their fatherland. 

The first house of worship was a Methodist cliapel which still remains. There 
are nearly three hundred Catholics around Ghent, but as new-comers they 
cannot afi'ord to build a church immediately. They are preparing to build a 



54 LYON COUJsTY. 

large church next, sutnmiir. The gentlemen of the town have already given a 
«'-oncert to provide church furniture. They are preparing a new one, mostly 
in English, so tiiat everybody can understand tliem. 

Since June 188;{ Rev. Father Y. Devos has been among them. They are so 
assiduous to divine offices that they attend not only the sacrifice of the mass, 
but also the vespers, coming twice to the meeting every Sunday. They feel 
very hap])y when then they can relish the ceremonies of their old religion. 
Two veiy good musicians, Mr. Foulon and Mr. Vergote, furnish gcod singing 
during the services. There are few congregations where so many languages 
are spoken. When headdresses the people the pastor has to speek. Flemish 
French, English and German. The Latin used m divme office is the only com- 
mon language which is generaly understood by all. As soon as they hear the 
Latin language, which they heard in their younger days and in their distant 
fatherland, they feel themselves at home in their old chui'ch, and they are 
very hapjjy to see and hear the pious ceremonies of their worship. 

There is now a bad organization of the school districts. We have three dis- 
trict schools, but the nearest school house is more than two miles from town. 
Very zealous for instruction. Father Devos erected a tree school in town. It is 
taught by Miss Ilanna Lester from England, and not only the children but 
giown persons go +,o school to learn Ihe English language, so as to be able to 
converse with their American neijrhbors. In their love for instruction the 
county commissioners are read}' to make better arrangements for the public 
schools of Ghent. 

We hope in a few years to make of Ghent a thriving and liappy city, a 
iiew home as joyous as we left in our fatherland. 

Kkt. Y. Detob. 



THE NORWEGIAN MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMFANY. 

Tlie Norwegian Mutual Fire Irisurance Company of Eidsvoid, Lyon ("o., 
Minnesota was organized Februar}^ 22d, 1879, at the house of Guller Peterson, 
on section 14 in town ot Westerheim, Lyon Co. Articles ot incorporation and 
by-laws previously prepared by Mr. E. K. Kjorness antl Mr. Ole L. Orsen were 
then unanimously adopted and signed b}- 28 persons, who collectively owned 
property to the amount of $27,500, which they desired to have insured. 

The farst board of directors were E. K. Kjorness, president; Ole L. Orsen,' 
secretary; I. L. Kolhei, treasurer; Ole Brusven, T. S. Norguard, H. T. Oak- 
land and E. Bergman, directors. 

In 1880 the eompauy commenced business, each member paying S2 lor 
membership and 25 cents tor each one hundred dollai's insured, to pa}' losses 
occasioned bj' tire or lightning, and in case of a heavy loss an assessment will 
be made on the insured property every member to pay his pro rate share ol all 
losses and all necessary expenditures. 

The territory of the company is comj)osed of 12 townships as follows: Eids- 
void, Nordland, Westerheim, Vallers, Grandview and Lucas in Lyon Co., and 
the towns of Swede Prairie, Nojmauia, Sannes, Hazehun, Friendship anil 
Tyro in Yellow Medicine Co. This company has been very successful from its 
organization up to the present date, as shown in the following animal reports 
lor the last 4 years past: 

For the yea^- ending Dec. 31, 1880 Number of member?' 57, policies lu 
force 57, amount insured thereby $.37,426.00. 



R« LYON COUNTY. 

Received from members during the year, $l9:>.(iS 
Ix)88es incurred and pai(i R. Ivenson and S. John- 

aUianson on stables; cause, prairie dre, f2o. 00 

All other expenses. . 91.76 

Balance on hand, 77-89 



$192.Go $192.65 

Dec. ol, 1881. Members 74, policies 74, amount ol' insurance in torce 
$71,381. 

Receipts for the year, $114.00 

Balance in treasury from previous year, 77.89 

Jjosses incurred and paid G. Torberg and Knud 

Kjorness 1 cow and 1 heifer; cause lightning, $41.00 

All other expenditures, 63.47 

Balance on hand, 98.29 



• $192.76 $192.76 

Dec. 31, 1882. Numbers of members 96, policies 96, total amount of insur- 
ance $86,060. 

Received during the year, $217.2.') 

Cash from previous year, 98.29 

Losses incurred and paid, K. Thompson, one horse, $100.00 

All other expenditures, 70.78 

Balance in cash, 144.76 



$315.54 $315.54 

Annnual report, Dec. 31, 1883. Number of members 112, policies in force 
112, amount ot insurance in force $105,477. 

Receipts foii the the year, $313.19 

Balance from previous year, 144.76 

Losses paid, S. Hognasou and A. Lee, stables, $59.00 

All other expenditures, 63.90 

Balance in treasury Jan. 1, 1884, 335,05 

$457.9.) $457.95 

In 1881 the money received for membership and 8 cents per 100 dollars m- 
sured paid all loss and expense. 

In 1882 the receipts for membership and 15 cents per 100 dollars settled all 
loss and evpense for that year. 

In 1883 the money received from membership and 12 cents [per 100 dollars 
settled all claims against the company for that year. 

The present board of directors is as follows: E. K. Kjorness, president; Ole 
L. Orsen, secretary; I. L. Kolhei, treasurer; O. Simimdson. S. llognason, IL 
B. Nilsen, Ole Johnson, directors. . 



TOWN OF CLIFTON. 



Clitton is on the east side of the county, joiaiug Redwood county, witii Stan- 
ley north. Am iret south and Lake Marshall west. It is town 111, range 40. 
Its surface is all prairie with very little standuig or running water. The oat- 
let to Lake Marshall cuts the southwest corner, and is its only sti'eam. Oq 
section 28 and some adjoining territory a rather swampy lake called Goose 
Lake is found, and constitutes the town's lake inventory. The prairie soil of 
Clifton, however, is unsurpassed for fertility, and its meadows and grazing 
lands are among the best in the county. While the town has no native tim- 
ber, there are numerous thrifty groves of cultivated forest [trees, some very 
fine, but a lew years hence the monotony ot prairie scenery will have disap- 
peared in one of nature's pleasantest landscapes, ptairie and grove combined. 
The lands of Clifton are almost free from waste pieces, and it will in time, 
when its coming rich farais are opened and improved, become one ol Lyon 
county's best agricultural townships. 

The first settlers who located homes in Clifton came in 1872. J. A. Dillman, 
a native Nova Scotia, who lives on section 30, took the first claim in June 1872, 
although he did not move his.famil}' tliere till the next May. He came from 
Hennepin county. In 1872, also, settlement was made on section 6 by li. D. 
Barnes and C. A. Cook, from Iowa and G. P. Ladenburg, from Hennepin Co., 
on section 18. The next two or three years brought in several settlers, and 
the town was organized in 1876, the 100th birth year of the U. S. Like the 
naming of a new child the christening ot Clifton was arrived at through nuicb 



58 LYOJT COUNTY. 

discussion. Tho town Grsfc caaght the name of Edenview, a name couceiyed 
with June landscapes and an active imagination as a basis, but through the 
more practical ideas ot Christopher Dillman was changed to Clitton. This 
name of course, means a cliff town, and is appropriate lor this town because 
there isn't anything that the most vivid ideality could distort into a cliff within 
twenty miles or so ot it. The cliffs of Clifton are not a foot high, and raise 
rutabagas and wheat in immense quantities. 

The tirot town meeting, Oct. 6, 1876, elected as the first town officers, A. J. 
Waite, chairman; G. P. Ladenburg and Christopher Dillman, supervisors; 
R. D. Barnes, cleric; J. A. Dillman, assessor; C. A. Cooke, treasurer; G. W. 
Mossman J. Lynn, justices; H. J, Newhouse and W. B. Franlilm, constables. 

Miss Ida Mead taught the first public school m the town in 1876. There arc 
now thrie organized school districts with school buildings on sections 8, 11 and 
T3. , 

The first public religious services in the town at which preaching was done 
M'ere conducted in 1875 by llev. H, C. Simmons, a Congregational minister ot 
Marshall, and a church society has since been organized tliere preaching be- 
ing supplied from the church in Marshall. Services are still held in the school 
house. 

In 1883 Clifton bad reported 2,205 acres under plow; 1,115 wheat, 605 oats, 
308 corn, 116 barley, 18 potatoes, 11 beans, 23 tlax. 

The vote of tfie town in 1882 was 31. 

The inhabitants of (jlillon can be found as follows: 

Section 2, ne C. Marks; se C. J. Spong; sw Wm. Marks. 

Section 3, H. C. Meehl. 

Section 4, so G. Metzelder; sw B. Snyder, 

Section 5, ne ('. Rock. 

Section 6, se C A. Cook; w.} ne and el nwR. D. Barnes; w.} nw B. Grubh. 

Peetion 8, nw H. J. Newhouse; nw P. I.Truax; se H. Mead, 

Section 10, nw A. Adler and C. M. Gary; sw D. C. Ackerman; ne F. H. 
Fligge; se A. Mead. 

Section 12, nw B. Hassinger; se W. Mossman; ne V. Rowley. 

Section 14, se M. C. Humphrey: ne F. Bedhury. 

Section 18, se G. P. Ladenburg; wi J. Lynn. 

Section 19, se J. i'leraming. 

Section 20, s/; J. A. Dillman; center ^ Christopher Dillman; n^ nw Geo. 
Dillman. 

Section 22, nw V>. \\ . Shaw; sw D. A. Keys; se J. Pierard. 
Section 24, nw VV. 11. DiUy; sw G. W. Selover, 



LYON COUNIT. 59 



Section 26, ne J. Durkee; nw A. Mianeseng and J. Freiheit. 

Section 28, ne F. Hawkins; s} L. Nichols. 

SectioaSO, sw J. 3. Brown; nj Seymour, Sabin & Co. 

Section 32, nw F. Shake; ne E. C. Knieff. 

Section 34, nw L. Nichols; sw J. C. Brown; se W. S. Rader. 



TOWN OF LAKE MARSHALL. 



This township, in which is located the village of Marshall, the couuty seat, 
is named from a lake which lies in the southeast part ot the town. It is six 
miles west of Redwood county and iwelve miles sou'ih ol Yellow Medicine, and 
is town 111, ran^e 41. 

The town was the first organized town of the county, though its settlement 
is ante-dated by that ot Lynd. The first settlement was made in 1869, W. H. 
Langdon, now of Lynd, locating a claim on section 8 in June of that year. 

C. H. Whitney and C. H. Upton located the same summer on section 4, tho 
former on the southeast quarter, and the latter on the northeast quarter, both 
now embraced in the village incorporation. In the fall of '69 L. W. Langdon 
and his sou, E. B, Langdon, located in the town, on sections 18 and 8 re- 
.spectively. In 1870 the town gained several settlers, among whom were M. 

D. Morse, Oren Drake, Mrs. U. S. Stone, G. M. Durst, C. T. and Charles Bel- 
iingham, Josiah <Jlark and Geo. E. Welch. Oi these first settlers Whitney, 
Upton, Drake, Durst, Bellingham and Clark are still residents of the town. 

March 8, 1872, a town meetmg to organize and elect officers was held at the 
house of C. H. Whitney and the following .first officers of the town were elect- 
ed: 

Oren Drake, chairman; C. T. Bellingham and Noble Cuyle, supervisors; C. 
H, Whitney, clerk; S. M. Taylor, assessor; O. A. Drake, treasurer; W. H. 
Langdon and C. H. Whitney, justices; C. H. Upton and O. A. Drake constables. 

This was a boom year lor the town and couuty, the Winona & St. Peter rail- 



LYON COUNIT. «l 

road being built and operated to Marshall ia 1872. The towa site ot Marshall 
was laid out ia August this year by a corapauy of the W. & St. P- surveyors, 
consisting ot J. W. Blake, W. G. Ward, J. H. Jenkins and J. H. Stewart. The 
location chosen was in the c«'ntral part ot section 4, and the town assumed vil- 
lage projjortions very rapidly, of which proper mention will be made in anoth- 
er place 

The Redwood river, named b3' tiie Indians from the cedar trees found on its 
banks near its junction with the Minnesota river, flows into the town from 
Lynd on section 7 and cuts sections 8 and 4, flowing out in a northerly direc- 
tion into Fairview. Groves ol timber and scattering trees lie along the Red- 
wood in most of its very crooked passage through the town, and add very 
much to the generally attractive appearance of its prairie surface. The inlet 
to Lake Marshall, though a small stre^im, furnishes running water generally 
to the southern sections. 

Lake Marshall, named after ex-Governor Marshall, is a beautiful little prairie 
lake lying in an oval shape in sections 25, 26 and 36. It is about hrlFa mile wide 
by-probably a mile and a half long, and has high banks on both shores, with 
an occasional tree to break the monotony and lurnish shade for the pick- 
erel and bullheads with which it abounds. The lake is not as deep as some of 
the lakes in the county, but it furnishes an attractive picnic ground, and is the 
almost constant resort of fishing and hunting parties, Sundays excepted, of 
course. At the head and foot of tlie lake me adows ot the finest wild grasses 
in the vvest spread out for miles, making it a rich graz ing field and supplying 
hay in greater abundance than is needed at present. These meadows, with 
the future growth of the counti-y and better means of marketing, will become 
the richest portions of the lown. They are dry enough to become tillable' if 
desired, and have soil that is inexhaustable by any probable cultivation. The 
soil ot the whole town, tiiough perhaps more varied than some of the other 
tovvus, is of unsurpassed excellence, and will return large profits tor good cul- 
tivation almost to a certainty. There are several large and very thrifty farms 
in the town, that would be a credit to any county. The acreage reported un- 
der cultivation in 1883 was not, however, very large, being but 18;55, of which 
there were 7oO in wheat. ;379 in oats, 304 in corn, 98 in barley, 22 in potatoes, 
60 in flax. There were also 120 acres of cultivated forest trees, and 600 rods 
of the same on the highways. 

The houses of settlers in the town outside of the village of Marshall are lo- 
cated as follows: 

Section 2, ne J. W. Tike; se H Hoyt; nw J. K. Johnson: sw Goo. ('ojk. 

Section 3, seJ. B. Drew; sw W. Hyde. 

Sectio;! 5, se R. Spates. 



62 LYON COUNTY. 

Section 6, ne R. F. Webster; se i».ncl nvv Jas. Aiidrow; sw (ieo. and H. Link. 

Section 7, part of Younianfjfarra. 

Section 8, w] J. Ward: e] i)w H. Freese; eA sw ,J. Anderson; ne N. Cayle ; 

se T. King. 

Section 9, n\v J. Scott. 

Section 10, n\v J. W. Blake; ne J. S. Dewey; se S. Webster. 

Section 11, n^ T. Walker. 

Section 12, nw W. Wirt; sw W. (i. Hunter; ne C H. Richardson. 

Section 13, uw O. M, Fuller. 

Section 14, se A. Erickson; sw P. Quigley. 

Section IG, e^ John Berry. 

Section 18, ne D. Minnick: se W. Ca«hinan; nw Goo. J^ink; sw J. Smith. 

Section 19, B. J. Heagle. 

Section 20, nw M. Pettibone: sw C. T. and Chas. Bellingham: se Geo. Cook . 

Section 22, nw Andrew Ham. 

Section 24, nw C. Skillings; s] C. M. and A. Templeton. 

Section 26. nw and sw J. M. Burke, two houses. 

Section 27, n\ C. H. White. 

Section 28. ne L. 1). Lewis; rest of section M. C. Niles' stock and dair y 
I'arni, two honses. 

Section oO, nw (Jeo. Orr. 

Section 32, n] J. Clark; s] nw F. S. Wetherbee; sw E. Brotherton. 

Section 34, nj John Middleton; se G. R. Watkins. 

The iirst marriage in the town was that of Oren Drake and Mrs. U. S. Stone 
on Sept, 4th. 1872, Rev. R. Wait officiating. 

The first birlh is said to have been a child of one of the Billings boys. 

The first death was that of the Fo X family who were caught in the terrible 
blizzard of Jan, 8th, 1873. 

Tlie family consisted ot Mr. and Mrs. Fox, a little girl five or six years old 
and a young man, a nephew. They held a claim in Lynd, it is said the one 
Mr. Fezler now lives on, and had been toRedwaod Falls on a visit. On their 
return they were overtaken by the storm on Thursday, and when further ef- 
forts at traveling became useless they unhitched their oxen, letting them take 
care ot themselves, and turning over the wagon box tried to lix up a slielter. 
Such a shelter, however, was almost valueless in that kind of a storm, and 
they wei'C soon drifted into the snow When the storm abated on Saturday', 
lliey were found by Mr. Barnes near J. K. Johnson's and brought to Mar- 
Hhall. The 3'oung man and the little girl were dead and Mr. Fox was so badly 
frozen that he died on Monday. Mrs. Fox recovered. They were buried near 
the gravel pit, east of Mr. Wakeman's. 



LYON COUNTY. 69 

The first school was taught by Walter VVakeman in the winter of 1872 and 
"^ 7 3 in a building used by W. M. Todd for a lumber office. The school had 
about 20 pupils. 

The first sermon was preached by Rev. R. Wait m 1872 in a lent used week 
davs for a saloon. 

The histoiy of Lake Marshall being very nearly connected with that of the 
the village of Marshall, a more detailed accolint of its early events will be 
found in another chapter. ^ 



TOWN OF EIDSVOLD. 



Eidsvold, town 113, range i'S, is located in the northwest coiner (>l"tlie coun- 
ty, joining Yellow Medicine county on the north, Lincoln county on the west 
and the towns of Westerheim and Nordland on the east and south. 

The first settlement is said to have been made by Nels Torgerson in June 
1H71. The same year Swend Peterson and Ole Esping took claims and set- 
tled there. An organization was efl'ected in 1873, and the first election held 
Sept. 20, electing the following officers: 

H. T. Oakland, chairman; Nels Torgerson and A. Amundson, supervisors; 
John Coleman, clerk; O. B. Ringham, assessor, Swend Peterson, treasurer: 
H. D. Friuk, justice; O. H. Esping and G. Amundson, constables. 

In 1878 Mr. Frink opened a store west of the present village of Minneota. 
He had been appointed postmaster of the postolllee of Nordland in 1872, and 
continued in that office till 187.3, when it was transterred to N. W. L. Jager 
and moved to the present site ofMinneota on the southwest quarter of section 
25. Mr. Jager had opened a store in 1874 at the old site of Nordland and had 
moved it to the new site in 1875, this being the first store there. The second 
store was started in Nordland in 187.5 by Dr. T. D. Seals. Christian Lee ran a 
blacksmith shop on section 20 tor two years previous to this. In 187G the 
railroad company laid out the present village ot Minneota, which, however, 
went by the name of Nordland till it was changed by act ot legislature in 1878 
to its present name. 

Rev. J. Berg held the first religious services in Kids void in the section hous« 



LYON COUNTY. g,^ 

at Nordland. The services were LnU.oran. Tlir-re are now two Nonvegian 
Lutheran and one leelandin Lutheran organizations. 

The tir.st public school was taught by O. H. Dahl, a railroad section house 
being us.al Ibr school purr.osps till 1 S?9 wiien a school ouildiug- was put up at 
Minneota. 
The first marriage was that of J. J. Wall-a and Annie Olson, Oct. 2i, 1874. 
The first t5irth was made a good omen lor the town in a pair of twin girls to 
Swend Peterson and wife in 1871. 
The death of a daughter of Ole Peterson in 187'3 was the first death. 
In 187J) Bishop li eland made a purchase of the railroad company of a large 
tract of land in Eidsvold and adjoining towns, and located a Citholic ■coionv 
there. A consi(ierable pordon of this first purchase was in Eids old, and the 
population of the town wa, at once increksed by an iuimigration nf Eno-Iish 
and Irish Catholics, under spiritual charge of Father M.J Hai, \rst 

• priest of the colouy. These im.uigraMts were, as a rule, too nnskiiied in tiie 
business of western furming to make a suddenly large sueeess oi this coloniza- 
tion scheme and many of the tirst iniinigranrs after a time left ,nv for 
other pursuits; but new and better etloris were. i.jade by R-.v j. ^udey and 
bis successor, Rrv. Louis Cornells, and a cla^s ot more pra-tieal agneuifurists 
were soon gathered inti, the colonv from England, Ireland. Canud" and Bel- 
gium, and Kev. Cornells built a chuj-ch and parsonage at Minneota. the only 
Catholic chui'ch in the count- . 

riie coi(jny IS now divided into two branches with two pi'itsts, Father Lee at 
Minneota and Father Devos at Glient, some seven miles east of Mumeota, and 
numbers about one hundred members wh.. are fast becoming tiirilty and pr^=j 
perous farmers. 

The Wiin^na & St. Peter R. E. cuts through the town of Eidsvold diagonally 

from southeast to northwest, giving the town the advantage of a near market 

and -trading point in Minneoia. and greatly enhancing the valuati.m of the real 
estate ol the town. 

»' The two branches of the Yellow Medicine river How through the town, the 
south branch from south to north and the north branch fiom west t.> east, 
with a branch from the s'ouih in tiie west part ol the town. Tliis makes Ei.ls- 
vold exceptionally well watered, and gives it rich meadows and valuabl .• graz- 
ing fields as well as unsurpassed farming lands. The grain crop ot Eidsvld 
has almost always been a large 31. Id, and the town is cue oJ the most f rtila 
districts of the west. 

^ The assessor's report for 1883 gave for the town 1.812 acres in wheat. 5 3-3 iu 
k 5at8, 278 corn, 60 barley, z2 potatoes 2 flax, and a total acreage under cultiVA- 
tion ot 2,735. It had also 60 acres of lorest trees growing. 



m LVON COUN I'Y. 

Tho Ia.-!t aasessod "jiltiation of the town was $6«).7(il, aiitl il;s liigliest record- 
ed vote, that of 1882, was lOi. 

School district No. 5'">, organized in 18S"2 has a good school house and an (m - 
rolled Rcliolarsliip of 40. S'"'hool district No. Ml) ha? tho s.\nio enrolled soholar- 
.ship and is in the north east part ol'tlie tttvvn. 

(Inc nf liid curiosities of Eidsyold is a fossil trcse tonnd on the north branch 
(i)f tlic Yellow IMedicine rivtu* by Ole (). Svonnes m Dee 187.3. The larger 
piece is now in the yard oi Samuel Hovland in section 1. It is 2.3 inches in di- 
arnelcr ;iii<l over six toct long, showing p:irt of the roots, knots &c. This 
piece has been named Dale (uidbrand, fifter an oM Norwegian chiet who 
{ought against St. Olof, the king who cliristianized Norwa^^ 

In the center of stMjtion 2 stands an old land mark in a big Cottonwood near- 
ly 90 Icct high and visibh^tor 1.3 miles. 

A tine truss bridge si)ans the north branch of the Yellow JSIedicine on the 
section line between sections 1 and 2. It is 146 feet long, built by the town at 
;i cost oi ^mO. 

Diiiino- (h{i bi(r flood of 1880 several vcrv strange fisli were canHit in the 
. Yellow Medicine, n<>vi;r seen there bcfori'. ()ni> is claimed to hav(^ been a 
I'odlish. It w;is a tresli i>ih'. 

Houses ol residents are tound as follows: 

Section "2. ne O. A. Svennes; nw K. tlelgi^sen; sw K i-'odnes. 

iSeclioii 1, ne F, ISIcMahon; sw W. 1*. Ruggles and V. R. Adams. 

Section (i. nw A.Conijee: sw !>. Vosburir. 

Section S, w?, .1. Abeni: e] E. liinkley. 

Section IC. nw L. P. Johnson; ne iv. Knudson: s\tr K. Fodnes, se K. O. Bak- 

kcn and Torgcr Stcne. 
Section 12. n] Thor Rye and H. Bo'vden; se K. Knudson; svv Ole Espiug. 

Section 1 I. nc E. Syver.son; se II. '1'. Oakland; nw K. Tvambek; sw Malone. 

Section IS, se F N. Welch; nw 1!. Agiicrs. 

Section 20, sw John McCormick. 

Section 22, nw .J. E Kaas: ne J. I'cunmirton and ('. Hansen: Knud Rye and 
i\. Rvc; sw 15. Wallcn. 

Section 21. nw K. K. Kjoines; ne E. K. Kjnrnes; aw A. Annudson; se I. Ol- 
son and Didvicr. 

Section 21). no (',. Thompson; nw <). 1',. Ringham; sw H. 11. Roe: se <>. 
rhoinp.-«oii and J. Wilham.s. 

Section '28. nc VV. Salmon; e| L. Anderson; sw E. McDonald. 

Section ;io, nw Henry Canstens; sw A. Ratke find Wra. Mohr. 

Section;'.!, nw E. O'lJrien and Nels Torgerson; se K. O. Dovrc; sw Ole 
5este. 



TOWN OF NORDLAND. 



Nordlaud is situated on the west line of the eounty aud six miles from the 
north line. The surface of tlie town is rolling prairie watered by the soutk 
branch of the Yellow Mtdieine river, which fiowrf throii<rh the town, entering 
at the southwest corner, and, after a ver>' crooked passa2:e, leaving it on the 
north line near the center. This o:ives some very Hue meadow lands, aud 
makes the town well adapted to stock raising aud dairying w'hieh is bein^; 
largely entered into. The soil, like ail the soil ot I-.yon county, is unsurpassed, 
and there are many thrifty farms Jotting the prairie. 

The (own was first settled by Frederick Holrit/,, who located on section 10- 
in 1870. In 1873 the town was oi'ganized, an election being held at the house 
of T. H. Hume March 10. Tlie following were the first town officers: 

Ole O. Grofl", chairman: Ole O. Rear and Nils Anderson, supervisors; Fred- 
erick llolritz, clerk; T. i). Loftsgaarden, assessor; A. O. Strand, treasurer:; 

J. O. Fangen and Holritz, justices; Tliroud Helverson and W. K. Hovden, con- 
stables. 

The fiist scDool was tauiihtin l^^li, districts 24 and 25 being organized thafe 
3 ear. Privatt'. houses are still used for school purposes. 

The nearest market town of Nordland is Minneota, though considerable of 
the trade of the town goes to Marshall. 

The population of the town is entirely Scandinavian, no other uatiouality be- 
ing found we think unless perhaps a few Icelanders. The even sections are 
fairly well settled. Very little settlement has vet been made on the railroad 
sections, 



68 LYON COUNTY. 

On the farm of Albert Ilalvcrsoii in the scuth i)art of section 28 is said to be 
the hiiihcst Hliitude in Lyou counlv. It is siiid that, li-ora there one 'can see 
Dearly siU over the county. 

Tiie residents of the town who have houses arc loeaied as follows: 

Section 2, ne Halver Olson; nw J. B. Johnson, se Thos. Olson; sw W. K. 
Hovden. 

Section 3, se lloht. Cultshaw. 

Section 4, ne John Ohnn; nvv Seven Jeraniansen; sw John Jhotf; se S. Se- 
Vertson and John Josephson. 

Section G, n^ E. C. Getske; se S. G. DahMi. 

Section 8, n] S, Gilbi^rtson; se Neis Nelson; sw Chris Johnson. 

Section 1), nw Teeta Tolff; ne A. Strand; se Sever Tergland. 

Section 12, nw H. Verpe; sw Ole Rear; ne Olo GrofF; se Arny Larson, 

Section 13, nw Ole Bjerska; se N. T. Dahl. 

Section 14, ne T. Flume; nw A. Larson; se Nels M3^re; sw Ole Severson, 

Section 18, ne Charles Anderson; se Lars Jerpbak. nw Aslak Hang; sw Ole 
Stear. 

Ssction 20, sw Saru'l Hanson; ne F. Holritz; se Ole M3'^nck. 

Section 22. ne K. Melbo; nw Ole Nordba; sw J. G. Gellumd; se G. ^ mnnd- 
son. 

Section 24, aw T. Johnson; sw G. St^enerson; se Ole Ladel; ne F. R'jniberg 
and Ole S. Kj^elud. 

Section 28, neNels Halveroon; nw Andrew and Albert Halversou; sw LouLs 
Leeland. 

Section 30, ne S. Anderson; sw Trancv Tobias. 

Section 82. nw M. Bradason; ne B. Johnson. 

Section 34, nw Ole Borsnes; L. E.>t; se Joltn Larson. 



TOWN OF GRAND VIEW. 



Graudview, town 112. range 42 is located six miles from tliel north and west 
lines of the county. It is one of the b^st prairie towns in the county, atid is 
being rapidly settled up. The Belgian branch of the Catholic colony has ta- 
uten a considerable portion of the town within the last two years, and bids fair 
to take more. 

Th»i (irst settler in Grandview was O. McQuestion, who located on section 
34 in Aug. 1871. He did some breaking that summer and erected the first 
bouse, a slab "dug out" covered "with sods. Tnis was the year before the 
railroad reached Marshall and building material was scare? and dear. 

In August 1873 the first town meeting was held at the house of J. Thomaa, 

and there weve then elected the first officers, T. J. Barber, chairman; S. B. 

Green and J.M.Collins, supervisors; A. L. Baldwin, clerk; Geo. Chamber 

lain, assessor; J. M. English, treasur«'r; O. McCiueslion and H. B. Lioomis, 

justices; G. A. Wirt and C. Cotterell, constables. 

The first birth in the town was that of Lilly, a daughter of O. McQuestion, 
Dec. 16, 1871. 

The first death was that of a child of Joseph Chaniberhiip. 

The first school was taught in 1876 by Sarah Constant. The town now has 
four school houses. 

The first preaching was by Rev. W. S. Williams, Methodist, who it is said 

al.'='0 preached the first sermon in Fairvievv in Seth Johnson's blacksmith shop. 

Tills was in 1872, during which year there was quite an emigration to the 
town. 



70 l.YON COUf^TY. 

The W. <fcSt. P. railroad runs across tms town somewhat diagonally toward 
the northwest, giving a station ou section 15 which was Ibrmerly named (Jrand- 
Tiew but was changed to Ghent by the Belgian colonists some two years ago. 
It is seven or eight miles from Marshall, and, under the impulse given il by 
the colonists is growing into a thril'tj' village. 

The history and pr(!seii* status ol'the railroad sLalK^ns and villages will be 
treated sepenitely from the tcnvnships in another place. 

Three Mile Creek runs liii-ougli the town toward the north, and the bottom 
lands along the creek aie among the finest meadows in the county. The larm- 
ing lands of Grand\ icw are ^jood enough for the most critical and a larj^e num- 
ber of tile faiiiis aic tlirilty and handsome homes. 

The assessor's report for I880 gave 1,022 acres improveil, (52i> wheat, 2()1 
oa ts, 80 corn, 1.3 barley, 20 potatoes, 8 lla.x. The crops have been uniformly 
as good as those ol any section of the county. A canvas made by by Mr. 
Vaugh this winter gives over 3,800 acres of inii)roved land, about 500 cattle 
and 225 horses. 

The town has no natural timljer, but is reported as havnig 44 acres ol culti- 
vated forest liees, some of the groves being ver}' thrifty and promising ones. 

The last assessed valuation of Graudview was .SG.5,725, which will show a 
large increase in tliis spring's assessment, real estate not having been assessed 
lor two yea)-s. 

The houses of residents are to be found a.s lollows: 

Section 1, e^ Victor LeBeau. 

Section 2, )i\v II. ("halmers; sji F. Del>aud. 

Section ;}, ne J. Cavanagh. 

Section 4, nw H. B. Loooiis; se Theo Carron: sw C Foulon and G. Verghote. 

Section 5, se John Ford. 

Section C, ne M. Ellefson; se G. A. Aal; nw \i. Jacobson; sw Ole Rotuuui. 

Sections, w.^ nw A. Amuudson; ej- nw J. M. Vaughn; sw R. L. Greenslitt; 
ne II. Maarten.s; se L. DeCock. 

S(jetion f), sw David Vaq Hee. 

Section 10, ne H. Prineen. 

Section 11, s.^ B. F .lellison. 

Section 12, ne F. (ioodrieh and K. A. DeLand, sw a Paradis; sw W. S. 
Goodrich. 

Section 14, ne A. Graham; nw Mrs. Collins. 

Section' 10, nvr C. Me.ssme. 

Section 17, e.] A. Van llee; nw S. Van Hee. 

S.M'Mou 18, nV (Christian Lei«; hw S. Ladel. . 

S ■elion 2'1. ik-.J. i-tiiM-ier au.l J. Liriil)'-:-!: se .\. A. V.iv.n ■r:\\'. \V. T. .Maxon. 



\ 



LYON (-OUKTY. 71 

Se<^^lion 21, svv L. E. Bates; se Isaac Riirnier. 

Section 22, sw Char,. Cotterell and S. Pj.flrtHMi; so T. I, r.;ubi>r; nnJ. Tbom- 
jis and A. L. Baldwin. 

Section 24, sw J. M. Eno-li.sh; ne(i. Carpenter aud E. Lord. 

Section 20, ne Frank Baldwin; ri\f S. Coleman; sw J. Biitson. 

Section i37, nw Frier Schmitz; sw C Schmity:. 

Section 22, ne F. Laythe; sw \V. T. Maxon. 

Section 30, John Sheldrii; so Jolm Nelson; nw A. J. Ladle; hw O. -(. Ila- 
Qum. 

Section o2, sw J. Lambert; se >L Fuller; ne L. Story. 

Section ']^, w.] A. Penislon. 

Section oi, nw Wm. Goodell; ne J. G. Cook'; s.] O. Mc Question 



TOWN OF'AMIRET. 



Amirot, town 110, rangu 4D, lies on the east line of the county and one mile 
from the isoiith lin^. 

Th« town was organized March 10, 1874, and narniid Madison. T e uiuc- 
tion held nt that, tinij at th« store of Wm. Coburi gave as the first officers of 
the town, Jas. Milcdiell J>\, chairman; L. Grower and D. Hxnks, superrisars; 
Wra. Coburn, clerk; J. H. Williams, assessor; S. S. Truax, treasurer; John 
Taylor, jusiice; L. Mason, constable, 

Tlie hrst permanent settlers were Charles and Lifayette Grovor, who took 
clairaH there in 1868. and James Mitchell in 1859. 

Tlie W. & St. P. li. R. b'Mn^ built tnroujfh the county in 1372, a store was 
opened on section 32 by Wm. Coburn and a postoffije established with Cobura 
as postmaster. The railroad company put in a switch here and the postoffice 
nnd station was called Coburo;. . The Indian trading station of Sarato^ja, 
which had been established by Lynd about 1857 or belore that tima and which 
gave that name to the whole settlement on the C )otonwood, was further south, 
claimed by some have been on section 1 in Caster. 

In 18 M 111 '. railroad company m)ved their station about a mile northwest 
and laid out the town of Aiuiret on railroad land in section 19. The name it 
is said was given in honor of the wife of one of the railroad officials. The 
name of the township was changed by legislative enactment to correspond 
with that of the station. Mr. Coburn mjved his store to the new site and 
continued in bu'siness for two years. 
In 1873 the Congregational society built a churca on section 22, but the 






LYO^T COUNTY. 73 

build in 2^ was movod to thfi town of Cn^t.nr in 1S75. Tiir; first religious services 
held in tlie trrwn were conducted byRffv. J. Rees in 1872. 

The first school was taught by Mr?. Warnick in a board bhanty in the sam. 
mer of 1873 on section 31. 

The firvst death vvas that of a daughter of L.' Mason in 1872. The first birth 
a dauarhter to Wtn. Cobnrn and vviif^ in 18G3. The first marriage was that of 
J. A. Hunter of Marshall to Miss C. A. Mitchi'll. June 3. 1875. 

Both branches of the Cottonwood flow through Amiret, the north branch 
draining lake Mar-shall and Goose lake and flo^ving through the north sections 
of the town, while the southern and JMrger branch flows from the southw<?3t 
corner to its junction with the nortiicrn branch near the northeast corner 
This insures for the town an ample water supply, furnishes good meadows, and 
on the south branch considerable timber. The earlier setMers naturally topk 
to the timber of the Big ottonwood, and as settlement came iiilo the towa 
rather slowly the interest in tree culture was not awakened till late in the 
town's history,. so that by tlie last assessor's report there were only 27 acre;} of 
cultivated forcot tre«s in the town. The acreage of cultivated land by the 
same report was, hi/wever, 3,199. <tf which 1,287 were in wheat, 870 in oats, 
428 in corn, 5i83 in barley, 57 in potatoes, 14 in beans, 57 in liax. 

The soil ot Amiret is good and tliere is little waste land. 

The town has now thrfe school hou-^es and its educational interest-s are not 
neglected. 

The station of Amiret now supplies a market, a store bi'ing operated by Mr. 
Kelly and a grain warehouse by VanDusen & Co. The raih-oad company has 
a good de[)()t, and a commodious school house hag been built here. There is 
no good reason why at some future time there should not be a thrifty village 
on the present site of Amiret. 

Thesettlers ot Amiret have houses located astollows: 

Section 2, ne F. S. Woodruff; sc J. Fredi^nberg; nw E. Skyhawk. 

Section 4, se J. Sevens; sw O.i P. Btli; nw J. \V. Drew. 

Section 6, ne H. C Maydble and J. Shake; nw C H. Dudrey, 

Section 8, nw Jas Struthers and H. C. Swift; sw John Ciirray. 

Section 10, nw A. Nichols; ne V. O. Covey; sw W, Blackmaa and P. Derens. 

Section 11, sw, H. M. Burchard. 

Section 12, se J. Sherman. 

Section 14, J. M. Tavlor; sw J. Frost; nw H. N. Randall. 

Section 1.5, se S F. Kowell. 

Seotioj 17. nJ H Cuirav. 

Section 18, se C. R. Ma>doIe; sw D. Tucker. 

Section r>(), nw J. VV. Ni(;h<i|s; se B. Nichols and Jas. T. Hernaa. 

Soctiou 21, nw H. D. Sheplierd; sw T. U. Mathews. 



7i ITOK COUNTY. 

Section 2:?. nw J. M. MitchoU. 

Section 2G, ne J. York. 

Section 28, ne, A. 1). Lord; se (J. Hardin;^; n\v II. Drake. 

Scetiou'iO, se James Mitchell. 

Section 31, nw P. Ford; svv C. S. Grover: se L. I). Grover, 

Section 33, se W. Ilarri.soii. 

Section 31, nw G. F. Harding; ne O. W. Waldh. 



TOWN OF SODUS. 



The towusLip of Sodus, which i.s t,own 110, range 41, lies south' ol the town 
of Lake Marshall, ami is six miles Irom the east aud south lines of the county. 
Its surface is gently rolling prairie, \vitli very little -svaste laud. The south 
half has more natural meadows, especially along the Cottonwood river and its 
branches. The irrass of these meadovvs is very valuable, and tliat section of 
the town makes a very desirable grazing liekl where eitlicr dairying or stock 
raising can be made a prolitablc and easy business. Along these water courses 
there are between three and lour hundred acres of these meadow lands as good 
as can be tound in the west. Tlio grass of these meadows, by the ovei flow of 
the river every sijring attains a growth of from four lo six f*et, ,and makes- 
the most nutritious of hay for winter feed. 

Thongli with very little native timber, the town now sliows several line 
groves ol forest trees that have been raised by the settlers- Ayiong these 
may be mentioned those of Mr. Curtis, the Messrs. Neill, Mr. Fend, ^[essrs. 
Clark, Mr. Estee and Chace. Thei'e are also .some thrifty limber claims that 
will furnish luel in the near future to their owners and greatly add to the ap- 
pearance ol the town. There are in tiie town 112 acres of ciltivated forest 
trees, and 2,314 rods set on highways. 

There were reported in last assessor's report, 3,110 acres of cullivut«d laud, 
of which 1,5(;5 were wlieat, 867 oats, 433 corn, 137 barley, 32 po'^tatoes, 84 lias 

The farmers of Sodus are of late paying more attention to good stock, and 
are consequently iujproving in (inanoes accordinijly. There are several pros- 



76 LYON COUNTY. 

peroiis and very good farraors in ihe town who are demonstrating that agri- 
culture in Lyon county can be made a success. 

The public spiritfdness of the town of Sodus is shown in their highwayfl, on 
wh\ih since the organization ot the town, seven years ago, they have spent in 
labor and lunober for bridges about three thousand dollar^. 

The town has, also, four good f ame school houses, the one in district No. 5 
costing about 1900, the others about $600 each. School houses are located on 
sections 8, 10, 30 and 32. 

The town is well situated in relation to railroad markets, Marshall being 
five miles north, Balaton lour miles souih, Amiret one mile east; and there ig 
a coming prospect of another station nearby on the west when the Duluth 
road is completed through the county. 

The first settler in Sodus is said to have been Henry Cuyle, who came in the 
spring ot 1871. From that time the town settled up rapidly, and m 1876 the 
town was organized and named Martin, but soon changed to Sodus. The tirst 
town me elnig was held Oct. 27, 1876, and the following first town oflicers 
were elected: E.Hall, cI:airraan;C. Fisher and D. Warn, supervisors; W. H. 
Chaflee, clerk, G. Sykes, treasurer: N. Warn and J. H. Clark, justices; O. 
Pangburn and W. G- Williams, constables. 

Mis* Francis Mason taught the first school in 1877, a dwelling house having 
to be used in the absence oi school houses. 

The first death was that of Toilet Olson in Sept. 1873. The funeral sermon 
by Kev. Joseph Rees was the first public religious service in the town it is said. 

Houses ol settlers are located as toUows: 

Section 2, se M. Steele; nw Wm. Berry and.j. McCudden; se J, Richie. 

Section 4, ne C. Fisher; se W- Chaffee; nw O. Pangburn; sw John Clark. 

Section 5, Mr. Maxson. 

Section 6, ne H. Baines; se C Caley; uiv Gray; sw N. Minnie, T Hick3. 

Section 8, nw K. Clark; ne D. Clark; sw A. R. Johnson; se T. F, Watson. 

Section 14, sw Henry Estee. 

Section 18, se C. Marsh andD. Shilliam; sw W. L. Thurston. 

fcection 19, se Hugh Neill. 

Section 22, sw N. Warn; nw J. Taylor. 

Section 24, ne D. Warn, nw Wm. Hull and A. R. Chace; sw J. Scott. 

Section 25, sw 3. Ford. 

Section 26, ne G. Cook; se A. Wienkie; nw C. Lorenze; sw A. Loreuze. 

Section 28. ne, J. N. Lawshe; se W. G. Williams. 

Section 30, ne Robt. Nt^ill; se Wni. Neill; nw Robt. Marshall; .sw H. Ford. 
Section 33, nw A. Anderson; ne Wm. Shequin; se A. C. Forbes 
Section .34, nw T. Edwards; sw John and Wm. Griffiths; se N Davis. 



TOWN OF LYONS. 



Lyons, which is town 110, range 42, lies south of Lyad, and is six miles 
from the west and south lines of the county. The east and south portions of 
the town are open prairie countrv with the usual rich soil and meadow lands 
of the count) generally. The northwest corner of Lyons is cut by the Red- 
wood river, giving it some timber groves and also some rough land It is 
probable, as stated in the article on Lynd, that the first white men in the 
county located in Lyons. Tlie remains of an old log house, supposed to have 
been Lynd's trading post was found by the settlers in 1867 on section 6 of 
Lyons. The station was afterward moved to Lynd, however, if this theoiy is 
correct, probably after a Uurn out. 

The first pt-rinanentsettler in the town was C. E. Goodell, who located oa 
section 5 in 18G7. He was in the woods as a chopper before this time, a scheme 
having neen hatched to cut logs there and float them to Redwood Falls duriuo: 
high water. It i3_claimed by some that he was the first man ia the county af- 
ter the Indian trading posts of the period before the Indian massacre. Later 
in the spring ol 18(58 E. E. Taylor settled in the town. Soon after C Hiidreth, 
W. S. Adams and H. L. Pierce settled iu the town. 

An organization was effected in 1873, the first election being held April 1st. 
The first town officers were Gordon Watson, chairman; C. L. VanFleet and J. 
C Buell, supervisors; Henry Mussler, clerk; Chas. Hildredth. assessor; C. 
Wright, treasuier; .J. W. Hoagland aud H. Lamb, justices, C. E. Goodell and 
A. Crosby, constables. 



78 LYOiN COUNTY. 

A school was ope oed the same year, Florence Do\Tnie being teiicher. There 
arc now three school houses in the town. 

Rev. R. Wait, Presbyterian, conducted the lirst religions services there in 
1870. A socitly was formed and a church built on section 14 in 1873. The 
tii\me year the P. O. of P.ildredthsburg was established at the house of Chas. 
Hildretli, who was P. M. till the discontinuance of the office in 1878, liil- 
dreth's house having been burned by prairie fire. The postoffice of Leo was 
established in July 1880 and located at Mr. Millard's on section 14. Mrs. 
Millard was appointed P. M., which position she still hokls. 

The houses ot settlers m Lyons are located as follows: 

Section 5, ne B. F. Bates; seC. V. and J. J. Hicks; nw Gordon Watson. 

Section 4, ne W. C. Adams and H. L. Pierce; nw C. E. Rico. 

Section G, ne Mrs. Day; se D. Leary; sw R. Beasley. 

SeciionlO, se J. Filield; ne M. G. Filield. 

Section 11, s« F, R. Lindsey. 

Section 12, nw C. E. Rice; sw E. 15. Dowuie; ne F. C. Hicks aud T. S. 
Downie; se M, M. (';irti<. 

Section 14. ne C- E. Goodell; nw J. M. Millard; sw K. W:ii»: se C. S. Riley. 

Section 18, ne D. N. FeJlon. 

Section 20, sw R. Roberts; se A. Dann; ne 1. N. Harvej'. 

Section 22, nw R. D. Soper; sw D. Soper; se J. W. and J. F. Huagland. 

Section 23, sw Jas. Murison; ne J. Ingram. 

Section 24, ne <>. II. Thurston. 

Section M, se J. Burns; sw W. Riddell; nw Robt. Riddell. 

Section 28, ne S. W. Galbraith; se L. Jones; nw C. E. Dresser and C. L*. 
Wagner. 

Section 80. ne D. T\ Fellon; se J. VanSchoick; nw L. P. Knapp. 

Section 32, sw W. Carlaw; se C L. VanFleet. 

Section 34, nw C. E. Rice; ne T. Graham; se L.Mitzner: sw E. Jones. 

Section 85, nw E. Schmitz; ue J. Mitzner; sw Teufel. 

In 1883 there were accoi'ding to the assessor's returns 2.118 atres of cultiva- 
ted land, 824 wheat, 67G oats, 363 corn, 1G7 barley, 21 potatoes, 43 flax. 
There were also 43 a::res of cultivated forest trees. 

Rush lake, near the central part of the town, is well known t(^ the hunters 
of water fowl, but is not a very attractive lake otherwise. 

The settlers of Lyons are mostly Americans, and are among the best and 

thritiest ot Lyon county's population. There are several model farms, aud 

the future of the town is that of a rich agricultural and dairy district. The 
Duluth, North Shore and Southwestern R. R, will undoubtedly run througli 
the town next year. 



TOWN OF LYND. 



Lynd lies west of tlie town of Lako Marshall aud is town It 1, ranire 42. 

The history of L5'nd is ancient liistory in its relation to Lyon connty, this 
town beino; tlie site of the county's earliest settlcmont. 

There was a trading station for the Indian trade established here by James 
W. Lynd probably as eai'ly as 185") or \57. His store was located, it is said, 
on the norllieast quarter of section Ik!. This statement is contradicted by 
some who claim tliut it was on the southeast quarter of section 5 in Lyons. In 
I lie latter place the early settlers foimd the remains of a building that had 
been bui'ned, and in the spring ot 1880 Mr. (roodell in plowing his garden half 
a mile north of this spot plowed up a tub full of tools, consisting of handsaws, 
chisels, an auger, hoes, a hand axe, a f.at iron, a tea cup and saucer. Tho 
tub was wholly rotted, leaving oidy the impression, and the tools were nearly 
destroyed by use. The ludian.s, it is said, point out section five of Lyons as 
the first trading post. On section 3;'. the lirst settlers found a log building still 
standincr, which L. Tickner u>ed as a residence for a short time. It was later 
used as a scliool house; then as a store by G. VV^. Whitney. It is (piite probable 
that Lynd's post may liav" been moved to this ()oinl from si^elion 5 iu Lyons 
after a burn out, or for other reasons. 

The first pcrnianent settlement in Lynd w,<is in .Inne 18GT. when .V. AV. .Muz- 

'/y. James Cummings and E. IV Langdou look claims on section 32 and 33. 

li» September and October of tlie same year, Mr**. (I. F. VV' right and son, L. 

F.angdon and family, Lnniaii Tickner, wife and slcp-daugliter (Miss E. 14. 



80 LYON COUNTY. 

Taylor, row Mrs. G. A. Wirt,) M. V. Davidson and family and D. M. and E. 
E. Ta3'lor made homes in Lynd. Some half-breeds had taken' claims in the 
town before this time, and two of them, Thomas Robinson and John Mooers, 
held claims respectiveh' on sections 27 «nd 3t, when the settlers above named 
arrived. Tliej' sold out to R. Holland and A. Ransom in 1868 and moved to 
Lincoln conntj'. In 1868, James, A. R. and Geo. (Uinimings, L. S. Kiel, L. 
and Geo. Marceyes, A. D. Morgan, J. Ri use and John Clark settled in the 
town. 

Mr. and Mrs. A. Ransom became the parents of a daughter in November ot 
1868, which was the first white girl born in the county. The first boy born 
in Lynd was Harry L. Cumraings, .son of Geo. E. Cummings, in 186). 

The first death was that of Mrs. Bowers, a daughter ot ili- Muzzy, April 20. 
1868. She died of consumption one week after arriving in Lynl. 

The first religions meeting was a clas? meeting led by A. W. Muzzy in the 
winter of 18G7 and 18(38 at L. Tickner,8. A Methodist church was organized 
by Rev. C. F. Wright at L. Tickner's in the fall of 1808. The next year a nu 
ion Sunday school was organized at the same place with a library of about 
135 books, 100 of which were donated by the M. E. Sunday school ot Toulon, 
111., the rr.'t by a M. E, book house in Chicago. E. Lamb vvas'superintendent. 

In the fall of 1869 the Presbytei'ians organized a society, meetings also b^ing 
held at L. Tickner's by Revs. Carr and L.'"n. Tlie Methodi.sts of Lynd built 
the first church in the county in 1871 on land ovni 'd Ijy .M. V, D ivids >n. It 
was made of logs with floor and root of native soil. Another churah was 
partly built in Upper Lynd, and used one summer when it was moved to Low- 
er Lynd for a residence. 

Lydia Cumraings taught the first school in 1869, bt'iiig paid by subscripti -n. 
The school was taught in the old log buiklinir u.sed in former years for aii Indi- 
an trading post. 

A postofKce was established at Upper I^ynd in .June 18;>3 with U. M. Taylor 
P. M. It was held by him over four years. He also kept a grocery store the 
first part of liis lei-m. 

L. Tiekncr opened a hotel at Lynd in 18G8. The travel Through Lyml at this 
time cou'dii't have been very large or reirular. Bands ot Flandrciu Indians 
camped in the woods occasionally aiul a few travelers trom Redwood Falls 
now and then stopped there as imtnigraiits or on their vv.iy to s<'ttleineMts be- 
3'ond. Between Lynd and Redwood Falls there was but one house. Lumber 
used was h;iuled 50 miles, gr-nerally from logs hauled the same distance to mill. 
Pro\isuin8 not raised at hi>me had to be briuiglii from St. Pe er or New Ulm. 

The fii St regular mail carried to Lynd from Red ^voofl Falls and the first in 
the county, probably, was by C. Hildrcth. The contract was soon after let 



LYON COUNTY. 81 

to Wm. Jackson; who was the first white child born in St. Paul. James Cum- 
mings and J. Rouse built a saw mill at Upper Lyntl in 1868. It was changed 
to a grist mill about 1872 by Smith, Ellis & Rouse. This is now known as the 
Camden mill, and is owned by V. M. Smith. It hast hree runs of stone. H. R 
Marcyes also built c^three run mill on section 23. It is now the property of 
B. F. Link. Chas. Hildreth commenced the building of a mill on section 17 
about 1873. A substantial dam was made and for good reasons,, probably, the 
scheme was then abandoned. 

The village of Lynd was laid out by Mr. Muzzy on the south side of the Red- 
wood river on section 33. In 1871 he sold out to W. T. Ellis who put up sev^- 
eral buddings. 

Lower Lynd was laid out in ,1871 by A. R. Cummings and A. D. Morgan. A 
hotel was built and run there by Morgan and Kiel, and the former started a 
store there. Ellis moved his business there from Upjier Lynd, and the P. O. 
was also moved there. About 1874 the P. O. at Camden was established with 
Ellis as P. M. 

The older citizens of the county will remember Ellis as a character. Gov- 
erned mostly by impulse he was always ready to preach a sermon, run horses 
lor the whiskey, conduct a Sunday school or beat his best IVic^nd in a trade. 
Since leaving here he became the moving factor in a church row to such au ■ 
extent as to get his portrait in t!ie Police News. While nere he was an ener- 
getic, fervid efTervescent citizen who did considerable to build up the 
church and secular interests of Lynd, and develop its latent possibilities. He 
opened a store at Lynd and bought goods for it sufficient to stobk several suoh 
settlements. His goods had to be brought by team from New Ulm, aud were 
caught in a heav}' rain storm on the way. It is said the dried apples s welled 
so that all the other goods in that load were shoved overboard, and his load of 
codfi»5h, bought at ton rates, probably on time, had to be spread over the hills 
of Lynd to dry till the air of that settlement, it is claimed, reached the i'lan- 
dreau Indians and seventy bucks went on the war path thinking they sraelled 
the camp ot another tribe. 

The first marraige in the town was that of W. H. Langdon and Zilplia Cum- 
mings in 1868, Rev. C. F. Wright officiating. 

The first horses in the county were owned by E. B. Langdon, first mules oy 

M. V. Davidson, first chickens and turkeys by L. W. Langdon, first hogs l)y L. 

Tickner, first dog by J. Cummings. L. Tickner plowed the first gromid tor 

crop in spring of 1868. The first wheat raised was by A. R, Cummings in 1869 

Fourth of July was first celebrated at Lynd in 1868, and a merry celebration 
it was. » 

There are now two postoffices in Lynd, one at Camden with J. Rouse, P. M. 



82 LYON COUNTY. 

the other at what was tormerly known as Lower Lynd^ with L. S. Kiel, P. M. 
Both Upper and Lower Lynd were for a time the county seat. 

The Redwood river flows through Lynd, and a considerabh; body of timber 
is found along its banks, though the fuel demands of hard^ winters have made 
lieavy inroads on it, and small quantities are now being' marketed. Three 
Mile Creek cuts the northwest corner of the town, and small branches of the 
Redwood make the water supply of the town ample. The f prairie portions of 
the town are excellent soil and the agricultural status ot Lynd is fully up to 
the standard. 

The town ot Lynd was organized Snpt. 4, 1873, but no election was had. The 
county board appointed as its first officer J. Rouse, chairman; A. K. Cura- 
mmgs and J. Stark, supervisors: N. Davis, clerk; G. E. Cummings, treasurer. 

At the special election in aid ot the Duluth railroad, Feb. 23, 1880, Lynd 
cast 72 votes, all in favor ot bonding the county. 

In 1883 it had 3,823 acres under cultivation, ot which 1,G42 were wheat, 896 
oats, 650 corn, 210 barley, 41 potatoes, 18 beans, 246 flax. 

Its last assessed valuation was $103,997. 

Its population is mostly Americans and intelligent, tlirifty and desirable cit- 
izens. 

There are five school houses in the town, and church services are held at 
Lynd and Camden 
' The houses of the present settlers are located as follows: 

Section 1, Youmania farm. 

Section 2, nj J. Goodwin; se P. B. Fezler; sw C. and P. C. Farnham. 

Section 3, se J. Peterson. 

Section 4, se J. Myers. 

Section 6, ne R. Spates; sw F. Peterson. 

Section 8, nvv W. Williams; ne Jas. Lockey; sw A. P. Wells. 

Section 9, nw 0. S. Foster; sw A. and F. JMellentine. 

Section 10, nw C. Morton; sw J. Anderson. 

Section 11, n^ Larribee & Sons; sw Wm. Acheson; se Otto Anderson; ne 
"Ulias. Pearson. 

Section 12, nw O. A. Hawes; sw Co. poor farm; ne W. S. Eastman; se I. V. 
2astman. 

Section 13, nw, A. Nelson. 

Section 14, ne C. Acheson and C. Nelson; se A. Nelson; sw Orla Nash and 
fV. Wonderleigh; nw P. MuUany, 

Section 18, ne H. Rolph; se Philip Snyder; nw A. C. Tucker; sw H. Rath- 
snell. 



LYON COUNTY. 83 

Section 20, nw H. Tucker; sw G. A. Wonderleigh; ue L. E. Fellows aud 
Alex Burr; se W. and B. Sykes. 

Section 22, ne Jas. Cummings. 

Section 23, sw L, Marcjes; ne Geo. Link and Link's mill. 

Section 24, nw B. F. Link*; sw A. L. Randall; ne B. Heath; se Angel, 

Section 25, nw C. E. Rice. 

Section 2Q, ne L. Gilman; sw Z. O. Titus and H. Smith. 

Section 27, ne W, L. Watson; nw C. E. Rice, L. S. Kiel and Lynd P. O., 
sw Rioe and S. VanAlstine. 

Section 28, ne A. R. Cummings; seD. C. Pierce; nw J. Dryden. 

Section 29, ne C. M. Damuth. 

Section 30, ne O. Gregg; nw O. C. Gregg; se H. G. Ward; sw L. A. Gregg. 

Section 32, ne C. Shilliam and W. H. Langdon; sw V. M. Smith; se Camdea 
mill, J. Rouse. Gregg's store and Camden P. O. 

Section 34, sw Mrs. Pierce, 



TOWN OF ISLAND LAKE. . 



Town 111, range 43, was organized m 1878, the first election being held in 
March 1879, electing Robt. Gardner, chau*man; L. Grow and Geo. George, su- 
pervisors; J. R. King, clerk and assessor; D. A. Kennedy, treasurer; J. H. 
Sykes, constable. 

The town takes its name from a lake in the south part of the town. The is- 
land in Isl?,nd Lake has an area of two and a half ov three miles, and is cover- 
ed with a substantial growth of trees. The lake, covering probably over 200 
acres, has^no outlet except in high water,' when it runs into Three Mile Creek. 
It is fed by springs. Mr. J. R. King, living near the lake, has a fine spring 
of soft water. The chores of the lake are drj-. There are not many fish in the 
lake, but efforts have been made by Mr. King and others to stock it with pike 
and otiier fish, and before many years this defect will undoubtedly be reme- 
died. 

Goose lake, a short distance west, abounds in fish. It covers about 160 
acres, has high i"ocky banks, and is an attractive lake. 

North of the lakes Three Mile Creek crosses the town from west to east. On 
the creek in section 24 there is a grove of natural timber, consisting of four or 
five acres. A branch of the Yellow Medicine runs across the northwest cor- 
ner of the town, and has some timber on its banks, 

The surface of the town is not as level as that ot some of its sister towns, a 
narrow range of the couteaus, gravel and stone hills, crossing the town from 
southeast to northwest. This couteau section interferes somewhat with the 



LYON COUNTY. 85 

agricullnral value of the town, but the valleys of the couteaus have been found 
to make the best grazing district in the county. The washings from the hills 
probably enrich them. At least the growth of grass is remarkably large and 
very nutritious. The rolling character of the pasture is said to make health- 
ier stock than on level fields. 

A glacial period or a drift from some other cause has deposited along these 
couteaus boulders and small ledges of lime rock. The latter is often found in 
large pieces, apparently dropped from some overhanging vehicle, sometimes 
standing on edge, Mr. King ran a lime kiln lor some years there on this sup 
ply, and abandoned it on account of coef of luel. 

The soil outside the couteaus is as good as that of any other part of the 
county, and produces large crops. 

The first settlement of the town was made by Rev. Williams on section 24, 
about the year 1870. In 1871 Lafayette Grow and Mr, Fort settled on the 
Yellow Medicine, and in 1872 John R. Ring settled on section 84, and kept the 
half way house between Marshall and Marshfield. For some years after the 
town did not settle very fast, but it is now fairly settled up with vigorous and 
thrifty ^farmers. Nearly every farmer has planted a grove of timber, which 
now begins to afford protection in winter, and gi'eatly improves the summer 
landscape. 

The first marriage of parties in the town was J. R. King, Dec. 24,1878 
to Elizabeth Milner. 

The first child born was Ethel Hodgkins. 
The first school was taught by Ada Kennedy in 1879. 

First religious services at house of J. R. King by a Mr. Dewey from Chicago, 
The reported acreage cultivated in 1883 was 1,601, 887 wheat, 370 oats, 173 
corn, 139 barlej', 20 potatoes, 10 beans. There were 59 acres of forest trees 
and 7o0 rods set on highways. 

39 votes wei'e cast in Island Lake at the special election, Feb. 23, 1883, to 
bond the county for f 40,000 in aid of the Duluth, North Shore and South- 
western railroad, which proposes to run through the county from Shelburne 
to Lucas. All were tor bonding. 
The last assessed valuation was $30,396. 
The houses of settlers are situated as follows: 

Section 2, ne Aug. Meehl, nw John Olson; se Peter Jacobson; svr Ole Fer- 
guson. 

Section 3. se John WiUson. 

Section 4, ne Peter Ferguson; se K. Ferguson; nw H. Oleson; sw G. Rue. 
Section 6, ne B, Knutsou; se E. Tibbelts and L. Grow; sw A. R. Snow. 
Section 8, n] C. F. Tibbetts, T, Jacobson, M. W. Roberts; sw H. Nelson. 



86 LYON COUNTY. 

Section 10, nw M. Ferguson; sw H. Ferguson; se Jacob Willsou. 

Section 13. n] J. Paulson; se Mary Cornisti, E. llolph; sw J. P. Christian- 
son. 

Section 13, se Geo. Boston. 

Section 1-1, ne R. Pliillips; nw John Lauuing; se R. W. Phillips; sw Homer 
Sparks. 

Section 18, e^ C. Willman; nwM. McDonald. 

Section 20, nw John Albright; ne O. Morns. 

Section 22, sw C. Bohlm an and John Dyke; se W. Van Buren; ne Paul Po- 
lasky. 

Section 24, nw C. Pocharl; ne E. Bai*nes; se Geo. George. 

Section 26, ne J. Peterson; nwT. H. Russell and D. W. Kennedy; sw D. A. 
Kennedy. 

Section 28, ej Robt. Gardner. 

Section 30, sw*S. PVeese. 

Section 32, nw John Foulds; se A. Pochart, 

Section 34, nw J, C. Beach; ne C. J. Falk; se J. R. King. 

There are school houses in section 4 and section 34. 



TOWN OF COON CEEEK. 



The town of Coon Creek lies on the west line of the county and six miles 
from the south line. It is town 110, range 43. 

The .town was organized in 1882. The name of Garfield was first proposed, 
but as the state already had a town of that name it was changed to Stowe. 
This name not being satisfactory, was again changed in 1873 to Coon Creek 
a name that is as appropriate as Walrus Island would be for the equator. If 
there was ever a coon in the town it must have come with the south wind. 
The name, however, has one merit, individualty. There is no other town of 
that name in this latitude. 

There is a creek called Coon Creek rising on section 6 which runs in a 
southeasterly course, striking the east line of the town on section 24. It emp- 
ties into the Redwood river. This creek has some timber on its banks near its' 
junction with the Redwood. 

The large quantity of school and university land in the town has been a bar 
to rapid settlement. The greater part of the improvement has been made 
within the last year or two. 

Wood Lake, given as lake Marguerite on some maps, lies in the north pai't 
of the town and is a beautiful little lake frinofed with timber. The drainao-c 
of the town is into the Redwood river, wliich flows across the southeast comer 
and near the east line after leaving it. There is some timber alono- the river, 
and wood has been sold in Marshall from Coon Creek, but the supply is limi- 
ted and not suflicient for the future demands of the town. Last year's asses- 
sor's report gave 17 acres of cultivated forest trees and 2.30 rods on highways. 



88 LYON COUNTY. 

The town was first settled by D. S. Burt who took laud on section 24, in May 
1870. J. R. Burgett came in June 1871, locating on section 4 on the bank of 
Wood Lake. H. H. Hodgkins and F. T. Burt came in about the same time. 
Very little settlement was made in the town for a year or two after. 

The first sermon was preached by Rev. R. Wait in 1875. 

The first marriage was that of Thos. Milner and Ella Knapp, Nov. 28, 1877. 

The first birth was William, a son of Samuel Starrett, born at the house of 
Mr. Burt in 1870. 

The first death was that of a babe of Mr. and Mrs. Burt, November 1876. 

A portion of the town is cut by t^e coteau range, making some rough and 
wasteland. There are, however, fine farming and dairy lands in the town, 
and several thrifty farms have been opened by an enterprising class of settlers. 

Houses of residents are found as follows: 

Section 2, se F. Mungerson; sw B. F, Bement and Nels Anderson; nw C. A. 
Johnson. 

Section 3, W. M. Rice. 

Section 4, se F. Porter, 

Section 6, no Siemer; uvv P. Sonei'ty; sw C. Cupp. 

Section 8, ne M. Milner; se G. O. Rask. 

Section 9, se W. W. Herrick. • 

Section 10, nw F. Willard. 

Section 11, se A. Johnson. 

Section 12, sw Wm. ]\IcCarty. 

Section 14, nw John Cleland. 

Section 18, se L. Larson; sw John Johnson. 

Section 20, sw T.Joy; se A. Joy; no Wm. Lem:n)ii, 

Section 22, sw J, Fuller; se L. Ilildreth; nc H. H. Hodo-kins. 

Section 24, nw D. S. Burt; se F. Ihda. 

Section 29, si R. Taylor. 

Section 30, nl J. J. McDonald. 



TOWN OF CUSTER. 



Custer lies on the south line of the county and six miles from the east line, 
and is town 109, range 41. 

The Cottonwood river flows aci'oss the north end ot the town irom west to 
east, and had some years ago considerable timber along its banks. This fact, 
which is an attraction m all new prairie countries, brought white traders to 
this section before the Indian massacre of 1862. A German some time before 
this opened an Indian trading station on the Cottonwood river it is said on 
section 1. It was called Saratoga. Trouble with a halt breed by the name of 
Joseph Campbell led to the murder of the trader by Campbell who was after- 
ward hung by a mob atMankato for the murder of the Jewett family. 

Xo settlement was made after this till 18G8, when H. C. Masters, John 
Aveiy, Horace Randall and G. S. Robinson took claims in the town. The 
town was oi'ganized in 1876, the lirst town meetmg, Oct. 14th of that year, be- 
ing held at the school house on section 2. The first ticket elected was L. D. 
Lewis, chairman; W. H. Huglies and Wm. Shand, supervisors; B. F. Thomas 
clerk and treasurer. The other tovvn offices were not filled till the succeeding 
spring election. 

Jane Mitchell taught the first school in a log house on section 2 in ihe win- 
ter of 1870. The district then combined the present towns ot Custer, Monroe, 
Amiret and Sodus. Custer now has three school districts and comfortable 
school buildings. 

Rev. Riley, a Methodist preachen conducted theurst religious service in tlia 



00 LYON COUNTY. 

town in 1870. The next yeai* a Presbyterian society of 16 members was or- 
ganized under Rev. Joseph Rees- A church was built in 1873, but was burned 
in 1878. The Congregational society now have a church on section 13, Rev. 
Peregerine being pastor. 

A considerable portion of the population of Custer is of Welch extraction 
and the census of the town would probably give about 240 people, the spring 
election ot this year showing a poll of 48 votes. 
In the south part of the town are two lakes, Lake of the Hills and Long lake. 
Along the Cottonwood ai-e some line groves of natural timber, though large 
ti*acts have been cut off for fuel purposes. There are many pleasant home- 
steads and rich thrifty farms in the town. The assessor's report ol 1883 gave 
3,142 acres improved, 1,456 of which were wheat, 917 oats, 260 corn, 260 bar- 
ley, 35 potatoes, 6 beans, 90 flax. The town also had at that time 87 acres of 
cultivated forest trees. 

The Dakota Central runs through the south part of the town, but, as yet, 
has no station in Ihe town. The nearest markets are, Tracy, four miles east; 
Balaton, 2] miles west; Amiret, 3 miles north; Marshall, 10 miles north. 

Resident's houses are located as follows. 

Section 1, se G. S. Robinson. 

Section 2, ne C. M. Goodrich and David Morgan; se E. H. Cutts; sw S. 
DeLong. 

Section 4, ne B. F. Thomas; se B. B. Thomas; nw Layfayette Alden; sw A. 
Booth. 

Section 8, ne C. Anderson. 

Section 10, ne John Avery; se Margaret Jones; w] W. W. HaiTison. 

Section 12, nw Jas Morgan; sw J. Rees and R. H. Hughes; e^ D. C. GrifHths. 

Section 13, sj J. H. Cutler. 

Section 14, se W. H. Hughes, sw Wm. Shand; nw J, H. Hughes. 

Section 18, ne P. Fedde and W. W. Gilford; se D. D. Jones; sw Jas. Elliott: 
nw Geo. L Glotfelter. 

Section 20, nw C. Whitmus and J. W. Whitraus; ne C. Whitmus. 

Section 22, nw J. Steele; ne Daniel WilUord; sw K. K. Olson; se L. Soward 

and A. G. Bumford. 

Section 34, nw T. L. Harris; sw J. L. Harris; ne H. H. Williams; se S. 
Evans. 

Section 2."), ne L. B. Woolfolk. 

Section 26, ne R. Owens and R. R. Owens; se E. H. Cutts; sw J. Owens. 

Section 28, ne J. P. Jones; nw M. Nelson; sw John Svvenson. 

Section 30, ne Wra. Parks; wi C. W. Caudee. 

Section 32, nw S. Soward. 

Section 34, ne H. Peterson; nw Hans Jacobson se; C. Helleson; sw T. Nel- 
son. 



TOWN OF ROCK LAKE. 



The township of Rock Lake, which is town 109, range 42, lies on the south 
line of the county- and one mile from the west line. It fl«rives its name from 
a lake which lies in the northwest corner of the town, the name of which was 
given it by the early settlers on account of the character of its banks which in 
some places are nearly walled up with boulders. It is a beautiful little lake 
with some timber on its shores, deep Avater and stocked with fish It is a favor- 
ite picnic ground and one of the attractions ot the town. 

The bown was first settled in the spring of 1871 by the McNabbs from Cana- 
da, who located on section 14 on the north shore ot lake Yankton. This lake 
is smaller than Rock Lake and not so deep, but is an attractive body ot pure 
water, and furnishes much pleasure to the people of Balaton which is built on 
its south shore. In 1872 W. and E, Hamm, G. W. Linderman, C. Osborn, J. 
W. Lester, J. A. Van Fleet, J. T. Crouch, A. Town, Mr. McKay and Miss Lina 
Bishop were residents of the town. Other early settlers were W. Livingston, 
L. Town, G. A. Glotfelter, E. R. Weeks, L. Nichols, J. Abernethy, O. E. Per- 
sons and H. L. Gifiord. 

The town was organized in Oct. 1876, and the following officers elected: 

W.Livingston, chairman; W. Hamm and Jas. Abernethy, supervisors; A. 
N. Daniels, clerk; G. W. Linderman, treasurer; J. A. Van Fleet and Geo. A. 
Glotfelter, justices; E. R. Weeks and A. McNabb, constables. This election 
was held at the school house on the land owned by -F. Abornothy, now in 'school 
district No. 60. 



92 LYOi\ COUNTY. 

The fii-it marriage occurred in Oct. 1879, C. M. Eichler and Cora Hamni. 
The ceremony was performed by justice O. E. Per.«;ons. 

The first death was that of Geo, A. Glotfelter, June 21, 1878. 

The first birth that of a son to one the McNabbs. 

There have been since the town was organized 52 births and 16 deaths. 

Rock Lake postoffice was established in 1874, R. Weeks, postmaster. The 
office was kept at Weeks' house in Lyons, however. He was succeeded by A. 
C. Dann in 1875, and during the same year J. A. Van Fleet was appointed, and 
removed the office to his house in Rock Lake. He was properly the first post- 
master in the town. The office was discontinued in 1881, Balaton having 
sprung up with the building ot the D. C. railroad through the town, and the 
postoffice at tliat town supplying the territory heretofore supplied by the 
Rock Lake P. O. 

There are four school districts in the town and two substantial school build- 
ing's, one on section 8 and one on section 23 at Balaton. 

Religious services are held in both these houses by the Presbyterians and 
Methodists. 

There are sixty voters and about 250 inhabitants in the town. 

The assessor's report for 1883 gives Rock J^ake 1,596 acres under cultivation, 
of which 801 were wheat, 494 oats, 181 corn, 102 barley, 18 potatoes. There 
were also 39 acres of cultivated forest trees. ^ 

The last assessed valuation of the town was $64,391. As real estate has not 
been assessed for two years, there will probably be a large increase»iri the next 
assessment. 

The surface of Rock Lake is rolling prairie, containing the usual amount of 
rich meadows and fertile farming land. 

The Dakota Central railroad, a branch of the C. & N. W. which runs 
from Tracy to Pierre on the Missouri river, passes through Rock Lake from 
east to west, giving the town one station in Balaton. The Duluth road when 
completed will undoubtedly give the town a competing market in a station 
near hy on the west. 

The Cottonwood river takes its rise in or near this town, and flows across it 
giving drainage, water supply and rich meadows. 

The population cf Rock Lake is mostly one ot intelligent, thrifty and pros- 
perous Americans. No town in the county can chiim a better class of settlers. 

There are tjiree lakes in the town. Rock Lake and Yankton, before mention- 
ed, and McKay lake on sections 3 ard 4. 

The houses of settlers are found as follows: 

Section 2, nw T. Lochman; sw J. Golts. 

Section 3, ne T. Luedkee; sw G. Golts. 



LYON COUNTY. 93 

Section 4, nw M. S. Fawcett and J. A. Van Fleet. 
Section 6, se Mrs. Crouch; sw Geo. Carlavv; nw O. E. Persons. 
Section 8, sw J. Abernethj; se G. W. Linderman. 
Section 11, J. O'Garee; se G. W. Rowe. 

Section 12, nw Geo. W. Root; sw M. Randall; ne'O. S. Carlisle. 
S-ection 13, n] J. W Wolverton. 
Section 14, ne A. McNabb; nw C. A. Giotfelter. 
Section 18, ne E. R. Weeks; nwR.W. Taylor; sw S. Flint. 
Section 20, ne T. L. Terry. 
Section"31, se O. E. Merrimau. 

Section 22, sw L. Town; ne Mrs. McErlain; se A. Town. 
Section 23, A'illage of Balaton. 

Section 24, nw N Truedson and E. W. Gifford; sw Mrs. Trotter; se Wm, 
Hamm. 
Section 26, ne J. H. Moore; se H. L. Gifford; sw A. W. Bean. 
Section 28, ne C. Town; se H. C. Howard; nw N. Terry. 
Section 30, nw P. Russell; se T. Skoag. 
Section 32, nw J. M. Johnson; sw C. K. Bengston. 
Section 34, sw O. O. Laff; ne E. M. Hamm; se J. P. Davis. 



TOWN OF SHELBURNE. 



The town of Shelburne is situated in the southwest corner of the county. It 
was tirst settled in 1871 by E. K. Ronuing, C. P. Myran and Christopher John- 
son, JSorweoians. The town was organized Sept. 6th 1879. The first town of- 
ficers were P. C. McCann, charman; D. A. Aurandt and W. F. Randall, super- 
visors, W. N. Olin, town clerk; 1. W. Howard assessor; E. Peterson, treasur- 
er; E. F. Dickson and H. P. Sandeen, justices; Charles Howard and Andrew 
Gilbertson, constables. 

The first religious services were held in the fall of 1876 by Rev. Mr. Eglaud 
a Norwegian Lutheran. That society built a frame church on section 20 in 
the fall of 1880. The society sold the tirst church building to school district 
No. 58, since which they have built a large and very commodious church, 
which is an ornament to the town. The first school district was organized in 
1880, including the whole town. The first school was taught by Miss Sadie 
Uartlett in 1881, The town has now three school districts. 

Shelburne has one railroad running through it, the Dakota Central. A sta- 
tion has been established about 60 rods west ol the Redwood river, called Red- 
wood. 

The surface is rolling prairie, splendid soil, as good as can be found in the 
state, and is well adapted tor dairying or stock raising. Hay is plenty and 
can be put in the stack to cost not exceeding one dollar per ton. The town is 
watered by the Redwood River and numerous small lakes. By digging from 
lo to 25 feet good water can be obtained. 



LYON COUNTY. 95 

The westei'n part of the town is settled by Norwegians, a very industrious 
classs of people who are acquirino^ fine homes. The eastern part is settled 
mostly by people from the New Eu^^land states. 

With th« completion of the Duluth R. R. Shelburne is quite likely to o-et a 
station near its cast line, which will give it the best of market taeilities. 

The Redwood river flows through the town Irom south to north near the 
center of the town. 

Shelburne is a new town and rather scantily populated. The last rote of the 
town, that on the question ot aiding the Duluth railroad, was 23, of which 20 
were for the bonds. This should give the town a probable population ot about 
130. 

The last assessed valuation of Shelburne was $27, 791. 

The 'assessor's report for 1873 gave the town 1241 acres of improA^ed land, 
of which 540 were wheat, 313 oats, 89 corn, 255 barley, 20 potatoes, 18 flax. 

The residents of the town are found as follows: 

Section 2, sj Allen Spink and John Olson. 

Section 4, se C. Dean; sw W. F. Randall. 

Section 6, ne P. Simenson; nw O. Kelson; sw A. G.Hangerud. 

Section 14, ne VV. H. Shafer; nw W. N. Ofln; sw John Murphy. 

Section 18, se E. K. Ronning; sp J. P. Myran. 

Section 20, nw H. P. Sandeen; sw C. Peterson; ne Peter Anderson; seC- 
Johnson. 

Section 22; nw P. C. McCann; sw P. McDonnell; e} Ralph Hatton. 

Section 24, sw E. F. Dickson; se C. Fellows. 

Section 26, ne E. Peterson; se N. Hommoberg; sw S. Goseth; nw D. N. 
Aurandt. 

Section 30, e| H. Jorgerson; sw E. A. Blegen; nw M. L. Blegen. 

Section 32. sw P. Ronning; »e I. L. Blegen. 

Section 34, ne P. McGinnis; seN. Lilaquist; sw J. Limblum. 



TOWN OF MONROE. 



Monroe is the southeast town of the county and is town 109, i-ange 40. 

The surface of the town is level prairie with nothing to obstruct the vision. 
There is scarcely any waste land, and the soil is of the best quality. In the 
assessor's report for 1883 the town is given 3,410 acres under cultivation, of 
which 1,105 were wheat, 946 oats, 780 corn, 310 barley, 43 potatoes, 218 flax. 

In 1871 the lirst settlements were made by David Stafford, E. W. Healy, and 
George White. In 1872 J. L. Craig, Ole llialson, E. L. Starr, Edward Glynn. 
and perhaps a few others came into the town. The town did not improve 
very rapidly lor two or three years though tie VV. & St. P. R. R. was built 
through the town m 1872 and located a station near the east line, called She- 
tek Station, lake Shetek lying a few miles south in Murray Co. and the ship- 
I)ing of that settlement being then made here. The postollice of Shetek Sta-^ 
tion was first in the township of Summit in Redwood Co. The station for a 
time appeared on the maps as Summit. The station was moved to section 23 
in 1874, and that and the postoffice changed in name to Tracy in February 
1877. 

The first school in the town was taught by Stella Cleveland in tlie summer 
of 1875 in the Presbyterian church at Tracy. This church had been built that . 
spring by a society organized by Rev. Ransom Waite who became pastor. 
The fiist religious organization in the town was a Congregational Sabbath 
school in 1874. Before the building of the Presbyterian church those of that 
persuasion had held servicej at the house of E. L. otarr, as far back as 1873 
under direction of Rer. Waite. 



97 LYON COUNTY. 

By an enactment of the town early in its history all the section lines are laid 
out foi^ roads. 

There are now two school buildiu^.s in the town outside of Tracy. 

The first birth in town was a son of George White, June 17, 1872. He died 
Sept. 10, 1872, the first death 

Thp town was organized in Jan. 1875, the first election being at the store of 
H. N. Joy. 

There are thi'ee lakes in the town, two of them being so near together, on 
section 19 and 30 that the name of Twin Lakes covers both. On section 34 is 
lake Sigel, which by pipes supplies the railroad water tank in Tracy. There 
is no natural timber in the town.] 

Tracy will be treated of in another article. 

Resident's houses in Monroe are located as follows. 

Section 1, sw C. Reggie. 

Section 2, sw E. Ladd. 

Section o, se J. Jones. 

Section 4, ne Jessup & Walsh; sw C. W. VauDusen; nw W. Northrup. 

Section 5, ne Jas. Thompson; sw J. W. Tyson. 

Section 6, se P. Peregerine; sw B. R. Bass; nw E. W. Glynn and I. Grayer. 

Section 8, nw J. Glynn; sw F. Durst; ne J. P. Dayis; se Rees Davis. 

Section 10, nw R. Lawrence and.M Larson; sw G. Larson: ne E. Jones; se 

T. Larson. 

Section 11, se Mevius Bros. 
Section 12, ne J. R Mullen; se J. B. Mullen. 

Section 14, ne J. B. Deal; se J. L. Craig; nw J. C. Tweet; s\vr R. Cavanagh. 
Section 15, sw N. H. Starr. 
Section 17, se G. Mendiking. 

Section 18, se W. Moulton; sw H. Hughas; nw R. Price. 
Section 20, nw W. H. Morgan; sw O. Amundson; se O. Olsen. 
Section 21, Chas. C. Warren. 

Section 22, nw A. EUinson; sw L. Rialson; ne S. D. Peterson and T. Lewis, 
se Ole Rialson. 

Section 23, village of Tracy. 

Section 24, nw W. S. Moses; sw W. Henning; ne J. Moline; se J. S. Wil- 
marth. 

Section 25, nw H. H. Tilus. 

Section 26, ne L. Montgomery; nw O. Johnson. 

Section 27, J. J. Randall. 

Section 28, ne C. Cnristianson; se Ole Anderson; nw Ole Helgerson; sw A 
Christianson. 

Section 29, no Mrs. R. Sessions. 

Section 30, nw E. D. Evans; sw G. O. Miller. 

Section 32, nw A. Amundson; sw H. Amundson; se J. Jacobson. 

Section 34, nw H. Molme; sw E. Anderson. 

Section 36, ne J. Retz; nw Schmitz. 




YOCMANS FARM, NEAR MARSHALL. 



HU 




u, 



It you want the best goods that the market affords call ou us. 

CROOSCERY, GLASSWARE, STONEWARE. 

We make a specialty of handliDg nothing but first-class goods that we can 
guarantee. 

MAHSALL MAHBLE WOHKS. 




DEALER IX 

Monuments and Head Stones, Table Tops, Shelves and 

iriARBIil^; POSTS. 

Foreign and American granite furnished on application. 



LofC.y 



BEST PLACE TO TRADE IN MARSHALL ! 










■ >■■. 



Attractions in all lines. 



Dr; hk hm, Clo% Eats I lif, 



Gloves, Boots k Slioes, Hosiery, fe. 
Carpets and Upholstering Goods. 



A mammoth stock of everything needed by farmers and 
townspeople, filling first and second floors. 



Don't get your supplies till you have visited the store of 



O. PEHRSON, 



IWARSHALL, lUINN. 




V- 



^*°'^^>i'.J:^. 



Y ? 



a Why do j^oii throw away your old 

iP* Sewing Machines, or exchange them 

for new ones [which is little better than 

throwing them away,] when they are 

simply out of order, and not worn out ? 



ii^ 



I have reimired many machines in the last 12 years, and 
have never been able to find one worn out. There are no 
worn out sewing machines. Get the worst old sewing ma- 
chine you can find, bring it to me, and if the necessary parts 
are in market, I will put it in order or forfeit $20. I have 
never failed to successfully repair one yet. 

Permanent residence, Marshall, Minn. Leave orders at 
McGandy's art gallery. ARTH UR M. NICHOLS. 




S!iST..Sk-'.^Xj!X03E3::ElX3 lie lOTS. 



Subscription price $1.B0 a year. 



C. F. CASE, Editor and Proprietor. 



1873-ESTABljISiaE»— 1873. 



^. s^. "v^.A.i"sc>r«j, 



-DEALER IN- 




irg, his, ! 




ron, mm 




FENCE WIRE, 

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J. p. WATSON. 



A. R. CHACE. 



WATSON & CHACE, 



— DEALEKS IN- 



FARM MACHINERY, 

SULKY PLOWS, WALKlXfi PLOWS, DRAfiS, SEEDERS, 

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HARVESTERS, * 

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Above is a partial list of Machinei'y and Implements carried in stock, all first" 

class and waiTanted. 




C.-'eitii-X'^— .^'>L- 






CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MARSHALL. 




,;5jjja^ils,/f 




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iVATSON'S STORE, 5IARSHALL. 



FARMING LANDS FOR SALE 



-THE- 




INON 



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HAS FOK SALE 



800,000 ACRES OF CHOICE LAND. 



IN- 



SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA- 
Offered on the most liberal terms. 

Small payment down and low rate of 

interest. 

12i per cent, discount for cash. 



H.:i»I. BIK€HARD, 

Land A^eiir, 

jraarshall, ITlinii. 



CHAS. E. SIM nONS, 

Cien. Land Cuiaiiiii.'<.sioiier, 

('liica»o, 111. 



DEALER IN 



HA 








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-ANJ)- 



FARM MACHINERY 



9 



BUILDING- PAPER, 



A LARGE STOCK OF 



^e^ilmg ai»4 C^#& 0to^eis 



Barbed , Wire, Piles of Tinware, &c, 

I have two first-class workmen, and am prepared to manu- 
facture any tiling that can be mado from tin, sheet 

iron or copper. 

Especial attention is called to the Deering Binder and Case 
Threshing Machine, the best machines now in use. 



II 



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The largest stock west 



or' Maiikato. The l)iis- 
iest place in town. 



A Carload of Sugar, 



CBGCKEBY, 

A mpcinmotli stock, 

AT LOW PRICES. 



Stoneware, Green, Dried and Tropical Frnit, Honey, 



er Mills Flour ! 





lM:£t2:»jsl:x.^ll 3Vtiii.23.. 



EOOTS & SBOES ! 




The largest exclusive boot and shoe house in scuthwestern 

Minnesota is that of 



5 

Marshall. 

If you want the best «oods in the mar- 
ket, he can supply you. Several years 
experience enables him to always 
give satisfoction, and furnish bet- 
ter goods for the money than 
you can get elsewhere. 







in endless variety, from the finest to the cheapest. 

Everything needed in the boot and shoe line 30U can lind Jit Janda's store, 

si"n ot the red boot. 



^WINONA GANG-SAWED 



YOUMANS BROTHERS & HODGINS. 



yra offer larger and better selected stocks of common lumber 
vlimension, flooring, siding, etc. ever offered in market 



-ALSO- 



WAINSCOTTING, SHINGLES, LATH, DOORS 

GLAZED SASH and BUILDING- PAPER, 

BLINDS AND DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES OF ALL KINDS 

SCREEN BOORS AND CEDAR POSTS &G. 

BRICK, LIME, PLASTERNG-HAIR. 



Office at end t>f bridge on Second street, Marshall. Ljon Co. Minn 

M.SULLIVAN, Agent. 



PARSONS &: W^ISE, 





i 



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We always keep a largo as- 
sortment of men's and boys' 
suits, trunks and valises, hats 
and caps of every style, gloves 
and hosiery, underwear, <fec 
Our goods are selected by a 
thoroughly competent cloth- 
ing man and our prices cannot 
be beaten in the west for the 
same quality^f goods. 
Our clothing is kept in such 

quantities that we can fit ev- 
erybody, and is always warranted to be just what we sell it 
for. 

One Price to All. 




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